A Mesa mother has been indicted for child abuse and hindering prosecution in connection with a case where her boyfriend abused the brothers breaking one's arm and paralyzing the other.
In a new report posted by the Arizona Department of Child Safety, it has been revealed that the mother of the children, 28-year-old Stephanie Berlanga, has been indicted in addition to her boyfriend, Corey Royalty.
Royalty reportedly abused his girlfriend's young children, causing one child to suffer several fractures and another to the point of paralysis.
abc15.com initially reported that on June 2, police received a report from Phoenix Children's Hospital regarding suspicious injuries they saw on a 3-year-old boy. Hospital officials reported to police that the child's arm was fractured in three places, and they also found three broken ribs that were "older and healing."
Berlanga allegedly told police that the boy fell at the playground on May 31. She brought the child to the hospital on June 2 after his arm swelled up.
Police say they found his 5-year-old brother the next day, severely injured. The child had internal bleeding, multiple rib fractures, bruised kidneys and a lacerated liver. The child had suffered a stroke at some point, leaving him paralyzed on his left side.
Police say that Berlanga was interviewed again and this time she reportedly told police that the children were in the care of her boyfriend, Royalty at the time they were injured. She said she was at work when they were injured.
Royalty and Berlanga have their next court appearance on September 14th.
