Authorities in Indiana have arrested the parents of a 5-month-old boy after the infant suffered life-threatening injuries at their home.
Cheyenne Elmore-Sitz, 23, and Javontae Goldsby, 31, called 911 around 9:30 p.m. on July 26, reporting that their son was found not breathing in his crib at their Evansville apartment.
Goldsby began administering CPR while waiting for first responders to arrive. When they arrived, they managed to restore the baby’s pulse and rushed him to St. Vincent Hospital.
Due to the severity of his injuries, he was later transferred to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis for specialized care.
Medical examinations revealed that the infant had sustained serious injuries, including a skull fracture, subdural hematomas, retinal hemorrhages, and subarachnoid bleeding.
These injuries were consistent with violent shaking and/or impact, resulting in a traumatic brain injury that was not likely to be survivable.
Detectives launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s injuries. Both parents were unable to provide an explanation for the injuries and denied causing harm to the baby.
They gave conflicting stories about who put the infant to bed before he was found unresponsive.
Based on the evidence at the scene and the interviews with the parents, authorities charged Elmore-Sitz and Goldsby with one count of neglect of a defendant resulting in catastrophic injury, and one count of aggravated battery.
They were taken into custody and are currently held in the Vanderburgh County Jail on $1 million bonds. Their court appearance is scheduled for August 4.
The couple’s two other children have been placed in the care of the Department of Child Services for protection.
