The abuse happened between Oct. 18 and Nov. 7 at the couple’s home in the 100 block of St. Charles Street in Wentzville, and involved more than putting fingers into the infant’s throat, records allege.

According to Wentzville Police Detective Sean Rosner, Burnette violently shook the baby. He slammed the baby’s face into the bed and held him there. The baby’s mother and a roommate saw the abuse, police say.

In an interview with police, Burnette allegedly admitted shaking the baby and “being too rough with him,” Rosner said.

Hendricks told police she saw Burnette abuse the boy three times, including grabbing the baby by the back of the neck and slamming him into the bed to get him to stop crying, Rosner said.

She saw Burnette stick his fingers into the boy’s throat to find his voice box to get him to stop crying, Rosner said.

Hendricks told police she and Burnette were aware of the dangers of shaking a baby because they had both been required to watch a video before leaving the hospital after the baby’s birth.

Dr. Linda Shaw told detectives that if the baby survived, there was a strong possibility he would have extreme physical and mental disabilities, Rosner said.