A Georgia mother and father are facing child cruelty charges nearly a year after authorities discovered their 6-month-old daughter had 29 broken bones all over her body.
Savannah Carol-Louise Cox and Shane Avery Moore were arrested last week by Rome police in the Appalachian Mountains’ foothills, about 70 miles northwest of Atlanta.
According to a police report obtained by Atlanta Fox affiliate WAGA and ABC affiliate WSB, Cox and her mother brought the baby to Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center on February 7th.
The hospital called the cops because the baby reportedly had a broken femur and bruises on her face. Further tests revealed that the infant had 29 fractures, including ribs, legs, and arms.
Nurses later told detectives that Cox and her mother repeatedly changed their story about how the injuries occurred.
First, they alleged that the girl had fallen. According to reports, they then began questioning hospital staff about the possibility that the injuries were caused by someone “dropping her.”
Finally, Cox claimed she took the girl to the doctor earlier that day and suggested the broken leg occurred there. She stated that she noticed her daughter’s injuries a few hours after the appointment and decided to take her to the hospital.
Doctors determined that the injuries were in various stages of healing. Police and the Department of Family and Children’s Services took custody of the girl and her sister.
When the injuries allegedly occurred, Cox, her parents, and Moore were living in the same home with the two children. After nearly a year of investigation, police arrested Cox and Moore on Thursday.
In addition to child cruelty, they face an aggravated battery charge. It appears that the couple has since bonded out of Floyd County Jail. Officials did not provide an update on the condition of the injured child.
