In the photo: From left, Sidney Whitt, Jacqulun Morales, and Shelby Munoz (courtesy of Smith County Sheriff’s Office).
Tragedy struck in Texas when two mothers left their young children, a 6-year-old, a 4-year-old, and a 2-month-old infant, unattended in a locked room while they indulged in a night of revelry at a nearby hotel. This absence led to the older siblings tragically harming the infant by tossing and stomping on the child’s head, as reported by the authorities.
Sidney Whitt, aged 21, and Jacqulun Morales, aged 29, reportedly entrusted the care of their children to Morales’ younger sister, 18-year-old Shelby Munoz. Allegations have surfaced that before they left, the adults confined the children within a bedroom, as the two mothers went out to partake in alcohol and drugs with a man at a local hotel, according to reports from ABC affiliate KLTV and CBS affiliate KYTX.
According to a police statement obtained by the TV stations, the older siblings handled the infant so roughly that the baby began to suffer seizures, resulting in a devastating brain bleed. Medical evaluations at a local hospital also noted severe bruising on the infant’s face.
The situation was so dire that the infant required hospitalization, during which time doctors placed the child in a medically induced coma, as reported by KLTV.
Child Protective Services and hospital staff notified police on June 18, and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation.
Munoz allegedly told detectives what happened and said she didn’t intervene because the children “were not hers” and she didn’t believe their safety was her responsibility, KLTV reports. Whitt and Morales came home to find the infant severely injured and did not seek medical help until the following day, police say.
When investigators searched the home where the child was injured, they “discovered that the home lacked air conditioning and was infested with flies,” according to the police press release. “The floor was heavily littered with rat feces, diapers, and clothing,” the release says.
Munoz and Morales were arrested last Tuesday, while Whitt was arrested on Thursday. The trio was charged with child endangerment and injury to a child. They were each being held on a $250,000 bond for each charge.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Office told KLTV that the infant was on a ventilator and remained in a medically induced coma as of Friday.