Doctors reported suspected abuse after a 27-day-old boy arrived at an Eau Claire hospital with facial injuries.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — A 23-year-old Bloomer man is jailed on a child abuse charge after police said his 27-day-old son was found with skull fractures, broken bones and other serious injuries during an April 25 hospital visit.

Dayne Paulson is charged in Chippewa County with repeated physical abuse of a child causing great bodily harm. The case began as a medical call, but investigators said it grew into a criminal complaint after doctors found injuries far beyond the cut, bruising and nose injury first reported when the newborn was brought to Marshfield Hospital in Eau Claire.

The infant’s mother brought him to the hospital on April 25 for a cut above his eye, a bruised eye and an injury to his septum, police said in the complaint. Hospital staff contacted law enforcement after a deeper exam raised concern for abuse. The baby was transferred to a second hospital with a pediatric intensive care unit, where doctors found several severe injuries, including three skull fractures. A doctor later told investigators that some signs were reassuring for survival, but the child faced a long recovery and it was too early to know whether he would have lasting damage.

Police said the newborn’s injuries included fractures to his skull, collarbone, leg, nose and a rib. Medical staff also documented cerebral and retinal hemorrhages and brain lacerations. The complaint said the baby’s condition showed high specificity for inflicted abusive head trauma. The child’s name has not been released. Authorities have not said whether any other children were in the home or whether the baby had been placed in protective custody after the hospital report. Investigators also have not released a full timeline for when each injury may have happened.

Paulson was arrested after the hospital report, and police said his first explanations did not match what doctors found. According to the complaint, he initially told authorities the baby was “being dramatic” and did not like having his diaper changed. Two days later, on April 27, he spoke with social workers and allegedly said he hurt the baby because the newborn would not settle down and stop crying. Investigators said Paulson admitted punching the baby in the eye and head-butting him repeatedly.

One detail in the complaint became central to the case. Police said Paulson admitted squeezing the child so hard that his own ribs hurt. Investigators then asked him to show what he meant by using a Kleenex box. The complaint said Paulson squeezed the box and crushed it. Authorities cited that demonstration as part of the evidence supporting the charge that the abuse was repeated and caused great bodily harm.

The case moved from the hospital to Chippewa County court within days. Paulson made his first court appearance on May 1. At that hearing, his cash bond was increased from $50,000 to $200,000. Jail records and court reporting showed he remained in custody at the Chippewa County Jail in Chippewa Falls after the hearing. The charge he faces is a felony, and reports citing the complaint said a conviction could carry decades in prison.

The medical findings also brought the case into the state child welfare system. Wisconsin’s Department of Children and Families lists a Chippewa County critical incident dated April 25 among public disclosures for child deaths, serious injuries and other critical incidents involving suspected maltreatment. Such listings are separate from criminal charges and can lead to later child protective services reviews. The criminal case against Paulson remains a court matter, where the charge is only an allegation unless proved.

Doctors described both immediate and long-term risks for the newborn. A treating physician said the baby had a good chance of recovery, but the child’s age made the outlook hard to measure. Medical experts said developmental delays remained possible because of the head trauma and related injuries. No public report has said the baby died, and authorities have not released a detailed update on his condition since the early hospital findings.

The case has drawn attention in the Chippewa Valley because of the baby’s age and the number of injuries described by police. Bloomer is a small community north of Eau Claire, while the court case is being handled in Chippewa County. Investigators have not identified additional suspects. They also have not said whether Paulson has entered a plea, whether he has an attorney speaking publicly for him or whether prosecutors plan to add any charges.

Dayne Paulson was scheduled for another court appearance on May 26. As of May 24, he remained reported in custody under the $200,000 cash bond, and the next public step in the case was expected to come in Chippewa County court.

Author note: Last updated May 24, 2026.