ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Authorities are investigating a possible case of child abuse after a thirteen-month-old juvenile with broken ribs was checked into the emergency department of a hospital on March 15.
According to hospital staff, the juvenile would have to remain at the hospital until being transported to Children’s Nationwide Hospital for further medical treatment and review of the injury.
The charge nurse stated that CPS had been contacted regarding the injuries, the report stated. An APRN-CNP in the emergency department, who was the provider for the toddler, confirmed that there was an injury to the ribs in the healing process and that she had received conflicting and changing stories from the mother.
During the investigation, authorities made contact with several individuals in the hospital room. One party told investigators that her parents had possibly abused the child. She also reportedly told deputies that her parents had abused her when she was younger and that she was in fear that they had abused the toddler.
Authorities were told by the family that a five-year-old allegedly had attempted to hold the child when he fell off the bed around two weeks prior to the date of the report. The family did not mention ever taking the child to be examined after this incident, the deputy said in his report.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to confirm the allegations of child abuse. The Sheriff’s Office has withheld the names of those involved pending the results of the investigation.
