Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews says a child abuse case involving a 4-year-old girl being invested by his department is “horrific.” The girl’s mother, Catharine Ammons, 24, and her live-in boyfriend James Watson, 27, both of Lugoff, South Carolina, were arrested after law enforcement was notified of possible child abuse by hospital officials at Kershaw Health. According to WISTV, hospital officials contacted the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office after determining that the child’s injuries were not consistent with the explanation how she received them. Doctors determined that the injuries, two broken arms and a broken leg, had occurred several months ago, and they had begun to heal without necessary medical attention at the time the injuries occurred. The Herald reports that the girl is currently in intensive care with a lacerated liver and was bleeding internally. WISTV reported that the girl is in custody of The Department of Social Services and that the girl needs surgery, but she is too malnourished to have it done right now. Fox Midlands Connect reports that in questioning with investigators, the two admitted to abusing the girl, and that they rehearsed with her about what to say if someone asked about her injuries. Investigators also say Ammons admits to not doing anything to stop the abuse. “I cannot imagine what this little girl went through prior to and after the beatings which broke both of her arms and a leg,” said Matthews according to a report by WISTV. “The pain and mental anguish she suffered had to be horrible. And to make matters even worse, neither of her caregivers sought medical help for 4-5 months. This is despicable.” Ammons and Watson are being held at the Kershaw County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing and are charged with Unlawful Neglect Toward a Child. Sheriff Matthews expects more charges will be filed against them in the upcoming days.
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 20:45:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015