MdTA: Father Confesses To Throwing Son Off Bridge

MdTA: Father Confesses To Throwing Son Off Bridge

The father accused of throwing his 3-year-old son off the Key Bridge has confessed to the crime and is being charged with first-degree murder and first-degree child abuse, Maryland Transportation Authority police said on Thursday.

Stephen Nelson, 37, was officially charged Thursday with murder in the death of his 3-year-old son, Turner, who has been missing since Feb. 3.

Nelson, who officials said tried to harm himself by drinking household cleaners after the incident, has been in police custody at the University of Maryland Medical Center in critical condition since then. On Wednesday, he came out of a coma and confessed, police said.

Authorities said that warrants for his arrest will be served as soon as he's well enough to leave the hospital.

Officials began an all-out search of the Patapsco River for Turner nearly two weeks ago after a call to 911 reported that someone had thrown a child from the bridge. Nelson's mother reportedly called Baltimore police after hearing from her son about what had happened, police said.

Nelson had been in a custody battle with they boy's mother, Natisha Johnson, according to records in Baltimore County Circuit Court.

According to Baltimore County police, Johnson also called 911 three times within an hour Sunday night to report that Nelson had threatened to throw the boy off a bridge.

Officials have been searching the river since the report came in, but the boy's body has not been found. Police said recovery efforts will continue.