Spokane father pleads guilty to abusing and killing infant son

A year after his arrest, Erik Sherman, 33, pleaded guilty to abusing and killing his infant son.

Three-week-old Emmett Sherman died in August 2018 after his parents waited two days to seek medical treatment for his injuries. They instead had tried to diagnose his health condition by using a Google search.

On Aug. 5, 2018, the child’s mother awoke and found Emmett’s mouth bleeding so badly he could no longer eat. Two days later, the couple took the baby to the hospital after he suddenly stopped breathing while Sherman fed him at their Hillyard home, court records show.

A doctor at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center told police the baby’s injuries were “one of the worse cases of child abuse he had see in 23 years of practice.” The child suffered severe brain damage and doctors removed him from a ventilator on Aug. 10. He then died, according to court records.

Erik Sherman was arrested shortly after the death and charged with homicide by abuse. The child’s mother was not arrested.

The Spokane County Medical Examiner ruled Emmett died from a “subdural hemorrhage of the brain” due to a blunt impact. The baby also had a fractured collar bone, cuts to the face, a torn lip, and bruising in both eyes.

In his plea agreement, Sherman admitted his guilt and agreed to a recommended sentence of more than 26 years in prison. His charge was reduced to one count of Homicide by Abuse with no aggravating circumstances, according to court records.

Sherman’s sentencing will be November 15.