Devin Mims and Sondra Vanwhy: Ohio parents arrested after 4-month-old girl left with broken bones and brain bleed
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
ERIE COUNTY, OHIO: Parents of a four-month-old baby girl were taken into custody after she was subjected to horrific abuse that left her with brain bleeds and broken bones. Following the alleged abuse, Devin M Mims and Sondra Vanwhy were arrested on Friday, March 10 in Ohio.
The 19-year-old woman, who is facing one count of child endangerment, is held in the Erie County Jail on a $20,000 bond while the 24-year-old man is facing two counts of child endangerment and one count of felony assault on a child held in the same jail on $80,000 bond, reported Law and Crime.
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'One of the worst cases of abuse I have seen'
Sandusky Police Chief Jared Oliver detailed the infant's injuries and said, "She suffered four broken ribs, a broken arm, a broken leg, she has two brain bleeds, she has trouble with her vision now," and added, "She is suffering from seizures. This is one of the worst cases of abuse I have ever seen," according to Cleveland Fox affiliate WJW.
On February 8, a detective of the Sandusky Police Department received a call informing an infant with suspicious injuries. The young baby who reportedly sustained a broken wrist, a broken leg, several cracked ribs, and two bilateral subdural hematomas were brought to Firelands Regional Medical Center. According to medical personnel at the facility, the injuries were consistent with child abuse, as per Law and Crime report.
Where is the infant now?
Based on the severity of the infant's injuries, she was shifted to a hospital in Cleveland as doctors decided the baby required pediatric care from a specialized facility. Doctors at the Cleveland hospital concluded that 'non-accidental trauma' caused the injuries. According to medical records, the injuries included "chronic feeding disorder, oral aversion, seizure-like activity, multiple rib fractures, a leg fracture, a wrist fracture, and subdural hematomas."
Vanwhy told the investigators that the infant was brought to the hospital as she stopped breathing for nearly 10 seconds after she began choking while eating. After going completely limp, she did not stop crying, as per Vanwhy's statement. The couple claimed they are not aware of the possibility of how the child sustained such severe injuries. However, the father allegedly told that while tickling the infant, the parents may have gotten a little "rough". His claim was countered by the investigators after they pointed out that tickling would not lead to multiple fractured ribs. The man then claimed he recalls accidentally dropping the infant while placing her in the baby rocker.
The parents further claimed that one of them is in charge of watching their four-month-old daughter and she does not have a babysitter. The baby is currently taken under the custody of Erie County Children Services. Sandusky Police Detective Carissa stated, "The injuries to that child, it was pure torture for that little baby for months."