A 28-year-old Pace mother and her boyfriend are both charged in a child abuse case where a baby was hospitalized with various injuries.
JM was arrested on March 1 for felony child neglect causing great bodily harm. She was released from Santa Rosa County Jail the next day on $75,000 bond.
Deputies also arrested 29-year-old Jay man JS on March 1 on a felony charge of aggravated child abuse. He is being held in Santa Rosa County Jail on $300,000 bond.
According to the arrest report, the child abuse happened between the dates of November 30, 2024, and Jan. 7 of this year. Pensacola Police alerted Santa Rosa County deputies on Jan. 8 about a child abuse case after M brought her baby to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment.
The report states hospital staff discovered the baby was suffering from:
- broken arm
- broken ribs (new injuries)
- broken legs (healing injuries)
- extensive old and new bruising to face, scalp, neck, chest, abdomen, sides, back, buttocks, arms and legs
- bite and grab marks to arm
Staff reported the baby was also missing two of her bottom teeth.
According to the report, M told police the baby likely suffered the injuries in various common accidents and falls over the month of December into early January. She added that her boyfriend, S, wasn’t violent toward the baby and wasn’t often alone with her — and when he was, only for short periods of time.
The report states M told hospital staff her baby may suffer from “Brittle Bone Disease.” The hospital then tested the baby for this disease, but results came back negative.
According to the report, another child told authorities that when they were alone with S, he would cover the baby’s nose and mouth to prevent her from breathing. The child added S would pinch the baby’s nose with work tools and also hit the baby in the mouth.
The report states deputies seized M’s cell phone for a search after initially interviewing her.
According to the report, the cell phone search revealed M took pictures of the baby’s various injuries since December. Investigators noted she only took the baby to the doctor on Dec. 5 — but not since then despite tracking other significant injuries and sicknesses.
The report states cell phone records also showed that S had watched the baby multiple times by himself for long periods of time. Deputies noted a Dec. 22 text from M to S that read: “You purposely hit her head on the door. All I did was ask why you did that and then you threw her in the backseat. You act like you hate my kids and it hurts.”
Additionally, the report states the cell phone search revealed that M had texted a family member about the baby’s various injuries several times throughout December and into January. The family member acknowledged it appeared the baby was being abused and suggested M take her to the doctor after the first Dec. 5 visit, but they also advised M “Don’t take her out in public” over fears that DCF would take the baby. WEAR News is not identifying the family member since this person has not been charged.
According to the report, deputies interviewed S, who denied abusing the baby — saying he only playfully pinched her nose with his hand.
Deputies charged M and S, respectively, based on all the evidence and interviews.
The report states deputies also interviewed the baby’s father, who lives out of state, and determined he had no part in the abuse.
No further details have been released about the baby’s condition.
The next court dates for M and S are both set for March 27.
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Source: weartv
