Shaken Baby Syndrome: WV couple charged in death of two toddler sons from 'worst injures'
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BUCKHANNON, WEST VIRGINIA: A couple was reportedly arrested and charged recently after their two baby sons died from shaken baby syndrome, authorities announced.
Thomas W Cunningham, 27, and Ciera N Gillespie, 25, were arrested on Friday, December 9 after an investigation was launched into the death of their two-year-old son. Gillespie was charged with child neglect resulting in death and child neglect resulting in injury, while Cunningham, 27, faced one count of child abuse causing death and one count of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, records showed. However, the charges are expected to upgrade as their second one-year-old son also died over the same weekend, The Sun reported.
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In late November, both toddlers were taken to a hospital with significant injuries that seemed to be the consequence of brutal abuse. While the two-year-old was pronounced dead upon arrival, the second boy was in serious condition until he succumbed to his injuries, the children’s grandmother reportedly told KPTV. As per Law & Crime, a copy of the criminal complaint reportedly noted that the incident took place on November 28, when Gillespie went to the nearby store, leaving the two children and her six-year-old child with Cunningham at home.
She reportedly told investigators that Cunningham was “under the influence of a controlled substance," when she left her three children with him. Cunningham allegedly confirmed to police later that day that he had “used Percocet to get high” before taking care of the children. Before pulling her car into the driveway, Gillespie reportedly received a call from Cunningham informing her that something was wrong with their two-year-old son. According to the complaint, Gillespie said that when she entered the home, Cunningham reportedly handed her the child, who was reportedly limp with “blood coming from his mouth and nose.”
Then, as Gillespie was about to leave in the ambulance with the two-year-old, Cunningham appeared with the one-year-old, saying, “There was something wrong with this baby also.” Tragically the the first boy was pronounced dead upon arrival at the JW Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. The doctor at the hospital reportedly told investigators they believed that his cause of death was shaken baby syndrome. The doctor who treated the two-year-old also added that “the retinal injuries were the worst he had seen in 20 years.”
Speaking of the one-year-old, the doctor said that toddler's injuries were "significant" and also consistent with the shaken baby syndrome, adding that “it would have to be a violent trauma with immediate incapacitation.”
A statement from the Upshur County Sheriff's Office reportedly said, "The Upshur County Sheriff's office, WV [West Virginia] State Police, and Mountain Lake Drug and Violent Crime Taskforce has been investigating this case since the incident on November 28, 2022 Arrests were made today, December 9, 2022, on both suspects Cunningham and Gillespie involving the death and injury of two infant children in Upshur County."
Cunningham is being held without bond, while Gillespie was detained on a $200,000 bond.