Florida pair who repeatedly kicked child in stomach rupturing his intestines arrested over horrific abuse
CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA: A 22-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday, April 2, for allegedly kicking a minor boy so hard that it tore his small intestines. Kimberly Darnell Taschereau was booked by Citrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies after the boy claimed while he was lying in the woman’s room, she kicked him in the stomach and “hurt my tummy”.
The minor also told investigators that the 22-year-old kicked him four times in the tummy and demonstrated the kicks by stomping on the floor. The sheriff's office was initially contacted by the Florida Department of Children and Families about a possible child abuse case in Hernando County hospital on March 3 when Taschereau first brought the child to an urgent care facility as he was vomiting.
The arrest documents also revealed that at the time Hernando County hospital transferred the child by air to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, for treatment. Dr. Sally Smith of the Child Protection Team of Pinellas County told investigators that the boy likely suffered a “very high force trauma to his abdomen” the day before he was taken to the urgent care. The doctor also said the small intestine perforation would be expected to cause abdominal problems.
Disturbing arrest records filed against Taschereau also stated that there was previous high force trauma to the boy’s stomach. The minor was interviewed by the deputies almost after a month when he had recovered.
Officials also interrogated Taschereau about the victim, but she denied any abuse allegations claiming she never hit or kicked the child. Deputies arrested Taschereau and she was taken to the Citrus County jail without bond. However, it is not clear yet how the woman was related to the boy.
Meanwhile, in another related case, Oak Hill Hospital staff informed Citrus County sheriff’s deputies about a second possible child abuse victim. The second victim is the brother of the boy who suffered a torn small intestine.
According to reports, in the second abuse case, the minor suffered red bruising along the right side of his face, forehead and right eye. He also had bruise marks along his left arm and left leg.
Taschereau told deputies that she left the second victim with Dakota Egge while she took the first victim to the urgent care clinic in March. She also claimed that the 24-year-old told her by phone and text that he put the boy to bed, but that he fell out of his bed and suffered a rug burn.
When interrogated by officials, Egge reportedly told them that he was frustrated that he was given the work of caring for the child during Taschereau’s absence. Deputies have also arrested him and took him to the Citrus County jail as they charged him with child abuse without causing great bodily harm.