Father Who Said he got ‘Runner’s High’ from Abusing Baby Sentenced to Prison

Michael Ormond is accused of abusing his 2-month-old son. He allegedly told investigators he was "triggered" by the baby's crying and got a "runner's high" from mistreating the boy. (Winnebago Co. Jail)

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Michael Ormond was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison for physically abusing his 2-month-old son. Ormond had told police he was triggered by the child’s crying, and that he got a “runner’s high” when hurting the child, according to a criminal complaint.

Ormond, 39, was previously convicted of child abuse causing great harm for the injuries the child suffered in September.

He was also placed on extended supervision for five years by Judge John Jorgensen, court records show.

According to the criminal complaint, police were called to a Neenah hospital after a child was brought there Sept. 7 with substantial bruising all over his body and a brain bleed.

An officer observed the child had “dark blotches on his arms and legs. The nurse pointed out a bruise on the left side of (the victim)’s face by his upper jawbone. Below his left ear was a red mark that was approximately two inches long. His left arm had bruises from the inside of his armpit all the way up to his wrist. On his right calf, there were red marks that the nurses also believed to be bruises. Inside his left thigh, coming down to the inside of his knee, were three bruises. The left hip, extending all the way across his buttocks, was completely blue and yellow from bruising and that extended past the small of V1’s back. Investigation revealed that V1 had been born two months premature and spent 47 days in the NICU. He was released from the NICU nine days prior weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces,” the complaint states.

Ormond — who was a firefighter with the Oshkosh Fire Department but is no longer employed by the department as of Sept. 11 — admitted to causing the injuries.

“Michael admitted to having thoughts of hurting (the victim) since bringing him home from the hospital. Michael reported that after (the victim) came home from the NICU, he would hurt V1 when he was alone with him. Michael reported that it started the day after (the victim) was brought home from the NICU with pinching (the victim)’s toes when (the victim) was crying. It ultimately led to squeezing (the victim) legs, arms, neck and face. Michael reported that the worst incidents occurred on September 7, 2023,” the complaint states.

The father also told police why he injured the child, even though he knows he’s not supposed to hit an infant.

“Michael stated that he has anger issues and (the victim)’s crying triggers him. Michael reported that when he hurts (the child) he gets something like a “runner’s high.” Michael also stated that he did hurt his two daughters when they were infants as well. He said he only has issues with them being 0-9 months,” the complaint states.

The child was taken to a Milwaukee-area hospital.

“Medical reports reflect that (the boy) had a subdural hematoma, bruising to bilateral upper and lower extremities, lower abdomen, left cheek, left and right upper eyelids, left chest, scrotum, extensive bruising to bilateral buttocks extending down later perianal areas as well as a right medial subconjunctival hemorrhage. The entire retina had hemorrhages, too numerous to count, which is a pattern consistent with abusive head trauma. The MRI of the brain and spine revealed large bleeding over the brain, primarily on the right half and back of brain. There was also blood in the spine area, from the 2nd vertebrae down to the lower lumbar vertebrae,” the complaint states.