A mother and her boyfriend in Indiana are accused of nearly killing her 3-year-old daughter, saying she was injured when she “walked” into a doorbell.
Kami Nelson again Lee E. O’Donnell, Jr. both were charged with one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury and one count of neglect resulting in serious bodily injury, according to court records.
Nelson, 23, and O’Donnell, 25, were charged following the incident that took place on Wednesday, March 25. The Star Press reports that police were dispatched to a rental home in New Castle, Indiana, after receiving reports of an unresponsive child.
Upon their arrival, first responders found the child lying naked on the floor and not breathing. A probable cause affidavit said investigators said the girl was “black and blue and had bruises almost all over her naked body and appeared to have been beaten,” according to the source.
Life-saving measures were performed on the girl before she was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The toddler was later rushed to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where doctors discovered that his injuries were more serious than first believed.
Medical staff said the child was “very sick” and “scared” after suffering severe abdominal injuries, which required emergency surgery, according to Dr. The Courier-Times.
After an examination, medical staff discovered that the girl had scars and tears in her intestines, internal bleeding and severe kidney damage that required dialysis.
“The report revealed that there were no signs of a medical condition contributing to this and no medical condition that could have caused spontaneous gastrointestinal injury as seen in Juvenile Victim 1,” investigators said in the affidavit.
“Without medical intervention, these findings would likely have been fatal and Juvenile Victim 1 remains in critical condition with a guarded prognosis. The only accident history provided at this time by caregivers is that the child is sleeping, which would not be consistent with these abdominal injuries,” the affidavit continues. “Currently, Juvenile Victim 1’s overall constellation of findings including … extensive bruising, soft tissue injuries, and abdominal injuries are indicative of non-accidental/caused (child physical abuse) injuries.”
Nelson allegedly told police that her daughter was injured while she was sleeping and walked into “doorknobs and things like that.” He also said that his daughter was sick and vomiting for days before the incident, and that he stopped going to seek medical help because he did not have insurance.
However, O’Donnell reportedly gave a very different account of the incident when speaking to detectives.
A mother and father in Michigan have been jailed after allegedly abusing their 22-month-old son before he died undernourished and healthy. The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office said Karloina Davis and Pierson Davis have been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse in the death of their son, Vincent. […]
O’Donnell, who watched Nelson’s baby work, told investigators that the mother was a “manipulative liar” and aggressive. He also said that he would disappear with the child “once a day, several times a day sometimes,” and said that he saw him hit the child and grab his face while he was eating.
It is said that he also told the investigators that he was reluctant to report the alleged abuse because he “didn’t want him to end up homeless.”
Nelson initially denied that O’Donnell may have caused the injuries, although he later changed his stance and told police he believed he may have done it.
Both Nelson and O’Donnell eventually became suspicious of the child’s condition, according to authorities.
In addition to hearing about the alleged abuse, the police also found drugs and a second young child living in the rental property at the time of the incident.
A babysitter in Indiana has been arrested after allegedly punching a 7-month-old boy in the face, severely injuring him and causing him to bleed on the brain. The Fort Wayne Police Department confirmed that Emily Duran is accused of neglect of a dependent, resulting in serious bodily injury and battery on a minor. […]
O’Donnell was arrested after allegedly failing to submit to a scheduled polygraph test on Friday, March 27. Meanwhile, Nelson was arrested the same day the child’s condition was read.
Both Nelson and O’Donnell are being held in the Henry County Jail on $191,000 surety bonds. They will next appear in court to hear their case on June 11.
It is not yet clear whether Nelson and O’Donnell have filed their pleas. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond Us Weeklyrequest for comment on the case.
