Three children in Ohio have been hospitalized following what officials describe as a severe case of child abuse. According to court records, a 32-year-old woman and her 34-year-old boyfriend were each charged on September 23 with three counts of endangering children and felonious assault. The names of the couple are being withheld to protect the identities of the children.
On September 13, the woman contacted police to report that a child was not breathing, according to local media reports. Emergency responders resuscitated a 9-year-old boy before transporting him to a hospital. Reports indicate that the boy had a body temperature of 80 degrees and weighed only 30 pounds. Two other children in the home, aged 8 and 6, weighed 23 and 22 pounds respectively.
All three children were found to be malnourished and required hospitalization. The oldest child remains on life support.
Authorities searching the couple’s residence discovered items described as evidence, including bungee cords, a belt, and soiled towels inside a vehicle registered to the woman.
“This appears to be one of the most insidious examples of child abuse that I’ve seen in 25 years,” said a Hamilton County prosecuting attorney during court proceedings.
According to court documents, the woman has had custody of the 9-year-old boy since 2020. She told authorities she “was preoccupied with another child the day of the incident.”
Bond for both defendants was set at $600,000.
