Taken first to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, the baby was then flown by helicopter to the Children's National Medical Center in Washington. Doctors there determined that Julian had suffered multiple skull fractures, intracranial bleeding and bruising to the right side of his face.
Doctors told homicide detectives that "significant force" had to have been used to cause the baby's injuries and that they were not consistent with an infant simply being dropped, prosecutor Leo Ryan told the judge.
Julian died less than 24 hours later.
Kenneth Ryan told police that he was watching his son that evening while the baby's mother and grandmother took naps, according to charging documents.
"After giving various accounts, he said something happened to the baby and that he was responsible," the prosecutor said.
Kenneth Ryan told detectives that he blacked out after taking "a large inhale" of Dust-Off, a product that uses a burst of gas to clean computer keyboards and other electronics.
Young people call the practice "dusting." It has become an increasingly popular choice for those seeking a cheap high. Several teenagers and boys have died from inhaling the substance, according to news accounts.
Kenneth Ryan told police that he didn't remember anything that happened after he inhaled the spray but that "he had to have done something to the baby because he was the only one watching him," the prosecutor told the judge.
Kenneth Ryan is scheduled to be sentenced in April.
He was also convicted in May of possessing a firearm while being under the age of 21 - a crime for which Kenneth Ryan has not been sentenced, court records show.
Outside the courtroom, his parents expressed sadness over the death of their grandchild.
"What happened here is a tragedy. Just a tragedy for everyone," his mother, Ellen Ryan, said. "God rest Julian in peace."
jennifer.mcmenamin@balt sun.com
