Joseph Walsh waives first court appearance in Sarasota

SARASOTA, Fla.- A father charged with brutally beating his baby to death was absent from his own court hearing on Wednesday.

Joseph Walsh, 36, waived his right to appear before a judge at the Sarasota County Courthouse.

Walsh is charged with first-degree felony murder and child neglect in the death of his son Chance Walsh. He arrived at Sarasota County Jail on Tuesday where he is being held on no bond.

Just a month and a half before investigators say Chance was beaten to death, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) received a call that Chance’s mom, 32-year-old Kristen Bury, was using drugs.

DCF says there was not enough evidence to go forward with an investigation because the caller didn’t have firsthand knowledge of the investigation. Chance was in the hospital at the time and the hospital did not report any abuse or neglect.

Six weeks later, authorities say Walsh and Bury got into an argument the morning of Chance’s death. Authorities say Walsh repeatedly hit Chance while Bury stood by and watched.

An arrest report for Walsh says the baby was placed into his crib where he was left to decompose. After the smell become too overwhelming, Bury and Walsh dug a grave in a wooded area of North Port.

Bury is also facing a first-degree murder charge for her son’s death. On Tuesday, Bury entered a not guilty plea in the murder of her son. In court Wednesday, a judge reiterated Walsh and Bury cannot contact each other.

WINK News also uncovered prior to Chance, Bury and Walsh were no strangers to DCF. Bury was investigated twice by the department, once in 2002 and again in 2003. Meanwhile, Walsh had seven children taken away from him between 2003 and 2008.

DCF confirms they have begun an internal quality assurance review following Chance’s death.