Florida – A Florida coupIe was taken into custody and charged with aggravated mansIaughter of a chiId after a 2-year-old boy was found unresponsive and later died at a hospital, Florida authorities said. Both defendants, C. ParneII and C. WiIIey, were taken into custody following interviews and evidence collection by the Sheriff’s Office; additional charges may be filed pending the results of an autopsy and further forensic testing.
Deputies responded just after 3 p.m. on the day of the incident to the family’s home in Florida after receiving a 911 call reporting that a child was unresponsive and CPR was in progress. First responders arrived and the child was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators say initial observations at the scene and during the hospital evaluation revealed injuries inconsistent with the explanations provided by the caregivers.
Florida authorities reported that the child exhibited significant bruising, swelling and other trauma that investigators determined were consistent with prolonged physical abuse and neglect. Media accounts and the sheriff’s office statement noted the presence of injuries and marks that included bruises and what appeared to be burns, and deputies said the pattern and extent of injuries did not match the versions of events provided by the child’s caregivers. Officials said the injuries were significant enough to raise concern for ongoing abuse.
Florida authorities said the child’s caregivers provided explanations that deputies considered inconsistent with the observed trauma. The victim’s mom told Florida authorities that her child’s injuries began about ten days before his death. She said the boy had been playing with her partner’s 4-year-old son on the night of Oct. 4 when he fell off the bed, striking his head. The woman also claimed she was not home at the time and only heard about the incident from her partner. She told investigators the child appeared to have only minor bruising and swelling and did not seem seriously hurt.
A few days later, she noticed the child’s head had started to swell and that he had bruising around his mouth, loss of appetite, and fatigue. She admitted she did not take him to the hospital or allow him to attend daycare because of the graphic nature of his injuries and said she could not explain how they happened.
Just two days later, the mother’s partner called her while she was at work, saying they needed to take the child to the hospital. Before they could leave, the child began vomiting and became unresponsive, prompting them to call 911. The mother’s partner told Florida authorities a similar story, saying he heard a loud noise while the two children were playing. He said he found the victim with a bIoody mouth and a swollen forehead but claimed the child seemed fine afterward. He also told investigators the boy appeared healthy until Oct. 13, when his condition rapidly worsened.
However, detectives said the couple’s explanations did not match the boy’s extensive injuries, which included swelling to the head, bruises on the legs and groin, and scars resembling cigarette burns. Investigators concluded that both defendants ignored the child’s obvious need for medical care for more than a week, writing that they disregarded his medical needs.
