An Indiana parent, 26-year-old NeiI, was arrested earlier this week and charged with felony neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury. The arrest happened following an incident on May 8, when emergency personnel were dispatched to the family’s home in Indiana after the couple’s 3-month-old daughter became unconscious.
According to police reports, the defendant and the child’s mother first informed officers that the infant had a gas bubble caught in her throat and had become unresponsive while attempting to burp her. The baby was having a seizure, so emergency responders took her to Children’s Hospital via helicopter.
Doctors diagnosed the newborn with a bilateral subdural hematoma, which means she had bleeding on both sides of her brain, as well as extra bleeding in her eyes and along her spine. The injuries were consistent with damage caused by being shook or tossed.
During interviews with detectives, the defendant indicated that after he returned home from work, he brought the infant into the bedroom to burp her, repeatedly smacking her back. He then put her on the bed and began counting money. A short time later, he realized the infant was turning blue and unresponsive, causing his wife to dial 911.
The child’s mother confirmed several aspects of her husband’s testimony but added that the baby had been wailing hysterically before he carried her into the bedroom. She said that after about four minutes, the crying stopped and the defendant emerged, indicating that the infant was not breathing.
Doctors informed Indiana officials that the child’s head injuries were consistent with trauma, most likely caused by being shook or thrown to the ground.
Following emergency surgery to alleviate pressure on her head, the infant went into cardiac arrest and was given a feeding tube. Medical doctors said that a section of her brain had ceased receiving oxygen, resulting in cell death, and that she would most certainly endure developmental impairments.
The defendant was booked into the Delaware County Jail and then released after posting a $20,000 bond. An initial court hearing has yet to be scheduled. This incident is still being investigated.
