“WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, INVESTIGATORS SAY TWO INDIANA PARENTS NEVER CALLED 911 FOR THEIR SEVERELY INJURED 17-DAY-OLD INFANT AND SOUGHT TO DISPOSE OF TRASH BEFORE CASEWORKERS ARRIVED… AND BOTH NOW FACE LEVEL 1 FELONY CHARGES.
Spencer Slentz, 20, and Paige Barrett, 19, are residents of Howe, Indiana.
Each parent faces one Level 1 felony count of neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury.
The charges follow an investigation involving their 17-day-old infant son.
Investigators say the baby suffered nonaccidental trauma between July 16 and July 17.
During that time frame, the infant was exclusively in the custody of Barrett and Slentz.
A text message sent on July 16 allegedly showed Barrett telling Slentz she was “abt done” with the baby’s crying.
Slentz told her to take a break and not hurt herself.
According to court records, the parents later found the infant struggling to breathe with dried blood around his mouth.
Yet they never called 911.
Instead, the parents drove the baby 30 minutes to Parkview Noble Hospital.
Hospital staff discovered fluid in the infant’s lungs and intubated him.
Ambulances then transferred the child to Parkview Regional.
A subsequent transfer moved the infant to Riley Hospital for Children.
Medical evaluations revealed that the newborn had multiple broken ribs.
Doctors also discovered fractures in his right leg.
In addition, examinations identified a traumatic brain injury, a brain bleed, and seizures.
A doctor told a child-welfare worker that the child’s injuries could not have happened accidentally.
Medical staff warned that the infant might die.
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Doctors also warned that he may never sit, talk, walk, or communicate.
They cautioned that he could depend on medical technology to survive.
And authorities allege that an effort to remove evidence began immediately after the couple departed for medical help.
After leaving for the hospital, Slentz allegedly asked a neighbor to clean the home.
He allegedly asked the neighbor to throw away trash before Child Protective Services arrived.
Investigators later searched the residence and recovered physical items from the scene.
They recovered a bloody pillow.
They recovered blankets.
They recovered baby clothes.
Officers also collected part of a mattress and an air mattress.
Then, before his arrest, Slentz created an online GoFundMe campaign.
The fundraiser asked the public for money so he and Barrett could remain near the hospitalized infant.
Slentz wrote on the page that their son was in critical condition with a brain bleed.
He claimed on the site that no one could explain how or why it happened.
Police arrested Slentz on August 21.
Police arrested Barrett on August 28.
Charges were filed on August 31.
Authorities confirmed that the investigation remains open.
Both defendants face allegations and remain presumed innocent unless convicted.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
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