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Police might charge father with murder Medford police may decide to charge a man accused of beating his baby to death with murder, a department spokesman said. Frederick Lee Pyke, 22, of Medford, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly striking his infant son on the head with his fist. Police have charged him with first-degree manslaughter. But that could change, said Medford police Lt. Tim George. "There are other more serious charges that may apply in this instance," he said. "There may be a murder charge out there." On Thursday, a state medical examiner who performed an autopsy on 6-month-old Christopher Richard Jimenez-Pyke ruled the baby's death as a homicide, George said. According to the medical examiner's report, the child died from "multiple, severe, blunt injuries to the head," or skull fractures. Police said Pyke hit his son early Tuesday while the baby was being comforted by his mother, Ramona Kenton, 18. She was not available for comment late Thursday. The child was treated at Rogue Valley Medical Center Tuesday before being transferred to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, where he died early Wednesday. Family members say Pyke has a history of abusing Kenton, his son and Kenton's 2-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. State social workers who confirmed they have dealt with the family before took the girl from Pyke and Kenton and placed her in a temporary foster home. Jeff Kenton, uncle of the baby's mother, claims that doctors told the family the child showed signs of previous abuse, including rib and skull fractures and hemorrhages in his eyes. Family members have established a fund to help Kenton pay for the baby's medical bills. Donations to the Christopher Pyke Memorial Fund may be made to any branch of Valley of the Rouge Bank. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA