An Albany man appeared in 7th District Court Friday and is facing second degree murder charges after the death of his infant son.

The Stearns County Attorney’s Office says 32-year-old Robert John Kaiser’s son died from injuries received while being watched by Kaiser. He claims his son’s injuries were the result of an accidental fall, but a board-certified child abuse pediatrician believes the infant’s injuries were not from a fall.

An autopsy report found the infant died as a result of a traumatic brain injury, most likely caused by shaking.

On August 28 the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was informed that a 10-week-old baby was airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis and child abuse was suspected. The baby was transferred after being brought to the Albany Hospital on August 27 by his mother. The infant had breathing difficulty and seizures.

Over several conversations with investigators, Kaiser said he was the caregiver at the time the child was injured. He said the child fell while he was holding him. A video was made re-enacting that fall, but the child abuse expert reviewing the video says the baby’s injuries were inconsistent with that type of fall.

The child’s mother says she got a text message from Kaiser saying the baby was not letting him sleep. She said her son seemed different when she got home on August 27 and she later took him to Albany Hospital.

The infant died on September 3 at Children’s Hospital. An autopsy and investigation found further evidence of bruising and healing rib fractures that are suspected to be previous child abuse.

Kaiser’s bail is set at $1 million without conditions of release or $500,000 with conditions of release.

Future court dates are pending.