A Schuylkill County man is behind bars after being charged with multiple offenses stemming from a serious case of child abuse involving an infant under one month old.
Nick Ganunis, 28, of Ashland, was arrested on March 31 and is facing several charges, including aggravated assault of a victim less than 13 years old, endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person. He is currently being held in Schuylkill County Prison after failing to post $100,000 straight cash bail set by Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli.
The investigation began on March 7, 2025, when Pennsylvania State Police at Troop L in Frackville received a Childline report of suspected child abuse and neglect. The report was submitted by a mandated reporter after the infant’s mother brought the child to the emergency room at Geisinger/St. Luke’s Hospital in Orwigsburg on March 5.
Medical staff documented severe injuries, including an acute subdural hemorrhage, consistent seizures, and fractured ribs. The infant was later transferred to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for advanced care, where further injuries were identified, including damage to the cervical spine.
According to investigators, the mother, reported that she left the child in Ganunis’ care while attending outpatient treatment on the morning of March 5. When she returned home that afternoon, she noticed abnormal behavior in the child — including tremors, contorted tongue movement, and refusal to eat — prompting her to seek emergency medical attention.
Ganunis was interviewed by police on March 19 and initially offered conflicting explanations for the child's injuries, including a dog jumping on the baby and accidental falls. However, he later admitted to forcefully shaking the infant in frustration. He told investigators that the baby's head moved back and forth about five times before the crying stopped.
Ganunis remains incarcerated, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 16, 2025.