The parents of a two-month-old baby in Delaware County were arrested after being accused of neglect after their child was found to have suffered from "catastrophic" and life-threatening injuries.
Authorities identified the two suspects as 22-year-old Mystique J. Scott and 19-year-old Shon Louis Taylor, who were being held in the Delaware County Jail under $50,000 bonds each. The couple was arrested on suspicion of neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury, which is a Level 1 felony that carries up to 40 years in prison.
Two-Month-Old Baby's Parents Accused of Neglect
Investigators with the Delaware County Sheriff's Department noted in an affidavit that Scott and Taylor took the two-month-old baby to Peyton Manning Children's Hospital in Indianapolis on Aug. 1 for a scheduled appointment.
However, hospital staff then determined that the baby had suffered "severe and life-threatening injuries," which included several fractures to various parts of its body. The horrific case was immediately listed at the hospital as a "near fatality," according to the Star Press.
A pediatric physician then told investigators that she believed the infant was a victim of "severe child abuse." Medical professionals described the child's injuries as "in various stages of healing" and "traumatic and non-accidental."
Later, a deputy asked the infant's parents about the injuries that were found on their child, where they said that the two-month-old struck his head "on the crib while sleeping" and was recently stung by a bee. The couple maintained their stance that they were not responsible for the severe injuries.
After further questioning, Scott claimed that the child may have been injured during a fight with her mother, where she was holding the infant when her mother attacked her. She said that during that altercation, the baby's head hit the refrigerator, Fox59 reported.
Questioning the Parents
Court documents showed that Scott also became angry and later requested a lawyer when investigators pushed for more answers to their questions. So far, there have been no official charges filed against the child's parents.
There was a similar case where two Indiana parents were charged after their 10-year-old son was found to be improperly fed, had his hands zip-tied, and was forced to face a wall "for approximately 10-12 hours a day."
The case follows officers visiting the family's home to check on the condition of the 10-year-old and the other seven kids inside the residence. When they arrived, police found the young boy to be extremely thin.
The child's parents were identified as 36-year-old Adam Greenwood and 38-year-old Melody Greenwood. The other kids inside the home confirmed that the 10-year-old was the only one who was being treated that way, adding that they were able to eat normal food, as per the Mercer County Outlook.
