SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio – A 30-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the severe abuse of a 9-month-old child, according to Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman. The case began Friday, January 10, 2025, when Scioto County Children Services and the New Boston Police Department requested assistance after a report of a severely injured infant.
The child, who suffered multiple injuries, including broken bones and a black eye, was transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center and later transferred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus for evaluation by a child abuse team.
Detectives initially responded to the mother’s residence at 3621 Rhodes Ave., New Boston, to conduct interviews and gather evidence. “Detectives were able to determine a timeline of the injuries to the child,” Sheriff Thoroughman stated, revealing that the oldest injuries dated back 10 days, with the most recent occurring just four days prior.
Sheriff Thoroughman reported that the child had been seen earlier on Friday at King’s Daughter Medical Center, where the mother was instructed to take the infant directly to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. However, when the child did not arrive as directed, Children Services intervened, arranging for the child’s transport to SOMC. Two other children were removed from the home for their safety.
Kayla Siearra Williams, the mother of the injured child, was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree felony child endangerment and five counts of third-degree felony child endangerment. She is currently held at the Scioto County Jail on a $350,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Portsmouth Municipal Court today.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.
