PRESCOTT, AZ — A man who was acting as the caregiver for a 15-month-old and a three-year-old at a home in Prescott has been arrested for abuse.
According to Yavapai County Sheriff officials, 28-year-old Jerimiah King was taking care of the toddler and three-year-old at a home on Julie Drive in Prescott on April 30 and was the only adult home at the time. When the child's mother returned home later in the day, she noticed bruising on the child that was getting progressively worse. The mother and aunt took the child to the Yavapai Regional Medical Center for evaluation, where hospital personnel called YCSO to advise that the child had unexplained bruising and trauma to its face and other areas.
The child was flown to Phoenix Children's for further examination. In the meantime, a deputy went to the home and questioned King about the child's injuries, but King claimed to know nothing about how the child got hurt.
On May 1, a detective interviewed several family members. They believed the child might have been injured while trying to reach for something hanging over his crib. Medical staff in Phoenix disputed the family's story and told detectives that the injuries were in no way related to the claim that the child fell while reaching for a hanging mobile, even if it did occur.
The detective was told that the injuries included bruising on both ears, indicating direct impact blows, redness and bruising to the facial area, including a bruise to the baby's forehead.
During follow up interviews, detectives obtained additional evidence alleging King's involvement.
On May 2, detectives interviewed King again, and he confirmed he was the only one in the house throughout the day on April 30. Although King admitted to seeing redness on the child's cheeks in the afternoon, King again claimed he did not know how the child was injured. During the interview, King claimed he would never hurt the child.
King was arrested and charged with intentionally causing injuries to a child and aggravated assault. King has since been released pending court proceedings.
