Baby suffers injuries like a ’very bad car accident,' doctors say; mother charged

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT/Gray News) - An Arkansas mother is suspected of injuring her 6-month-old baby after doctors told police the infant suffered injuries that could only be attributed to a "major car accident or physical abuse."

Craighead County District Court Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause Saturday for police to arrest 19-year-old Ryanne Elizabeth Foster on suspicion of second-degree battery, KAIT reports .

The charge stems from a complaint made in July regarding a 6-month-old infant taken to a Jonesboro, Arkansas, hospital, then later transferred to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, with severe injuries.

Foster and the baby's father reported the baby was born prematurely and suffered seizures after they were brought home from the neonatal intensive care unit. The father reportedly said the seizures occurred when he was not around.

Foster claimed the baby, which she reportedly called a "potato," fell from the couch during one such seizure, causing the injuries. However, according to the affidavit, doctors told investigators the baby had "mixed bleeding on the right and left brain, micro-bruising on the front and back brain," and multiple arm and leg fractures.

"When I asked the doctor about what could cause injuries like this in a 6-month-old child, I was told that it would have to be a very bad car accident or physical abuse," said Sgt. Bill Brown in the court documents.

When Brown tried to speak with the parents about the alleged injuries, Foster "would not call" him back.

Brown finally spoke with the child's father a second time Saturday. He reportedly apologized and said he had left Foster and moved out of town. According to the affidavit, he told Brown he was afraid that the baby "could wind up dead" if they remained in Foster's care.

"[He] talked about Ryanne describing [the baby] as a sack of flour and that there was more emotional connection to their dog than [the] baby," Brown said.

During Wednesday's probable cause hearing, when asked if she had any other children, Foster replied, "I have a dog."

Police arrested Foster on Monday and booked her into the Craighead County Detention Center, where she remains on a $50,000 cash/surety bond. The judge ordered her to have no contact with her child.

Foster is scheduled to appear in circuit court Dec. 17.