Mom arrested after police doubt her story of baby’s injuries
Published 1:30 am Sunday, June 3, 2018
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — A Mountlake Terrace baby’s mother was arrested for investigation of abuse that left him with bruises and eight fractures in his legs and ribs.
Police were called to Seattle Children’s Hospital on April 18 when doctors found five bucket-handle fractures on the baby’s legs — a common indicator of abuse, according to police reports filed in court. There were bruises on his left arm, left thigh, left knee and left foot.
The child’s mother told medical staff the child had fallen out of bed the night before, court papers say. Two detectives from Mountlake Terrace talked with her. She told them her boyfriend was holding him in bed when the parents fell asleep. They awoke to a thud and crying, but the child seemed OK, she said. She decided to take the baby to the hospital the next morning, according to her report. The boy was taken into custody by Child Protective Services.
The father did not return detectives’ phone calls. Police interviewed the mother again a week later, and told her they doubted her story, because doctors said it was impossible. A detective asked if her boyfriend hurt the boy, and she reportedly said no.
The boy’s grandfather spoke up and said he suspected the fractures happened at a checkup, when a physician moved the child’s legs for a shot, according to court papers. The mother agreed. That was the only explanation for the injuries, she told police. The detective told her he didn’t believe it. She insisted it was true. The interview ended.
On May 17, police were notified that X-rays had turned up three fractured ribs that had been missed earlier.
Police tracked down the doctor who had conducted the well-child visit on the day before the hospital trip. The doctor hadn’t noticed any bruising or broken bones that day, she told police.
Last week, the mother was booked into the Snohomish County Jail. A judge found probable cause for second-degree assault of a child. The mother was released on a promise to show up to her next court date.
Caleb Hutton: 425-339-3454; chutton@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snocaleb.
