'Severely malnourished' 5-year-old boy suffers cardiac arrest; father, girlfriend arrested
01/11/2023 3:05 pm PST
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (TCD) -- A 25-year-old father and his 23-year-old girlfriend face charges after a 5-year-old boy suffered life-threatening injuries due to alleged child abuse.
On Sunday, Jan. 8, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Kentucky State Police said they were alerted about a 5-year-old boy who had been brought to Baptist Health Hardin. The child was reportedly airlifted to Norton Children’s Hospital to treat his severe injuries.
According to court documents obtained by WDRB-TV, during transportation, the child went into cardiac arrest multiple times.
Police reportedly learned that the "severely malnourished" boy weighed only about 32 pounds when he was brought in, and he suffered injuries consistent with child abuse, including bruising all over his body.
According to WDRB, a doctor told authorities that the victim had to be given medications to keep his blood pressure elevated.
Police said the child’s father, Clovis Smith, left the hospital before police arrived but was later met by troopers. He and his girlfriend, Satrina Layne, were reportedly brought in for questioning and admitted to inflicting abuse on the child.
Smith told authorities that he grabbed the victim’s arms, sat on his buttocks, and trapped him in the bedroom by blocking the doorway and spanking the boy, WDRB reports.
Layne reportedly confessed to dragging the victim by the arm because he stole birthday cake. She also allegedly hit the boy with a spatula, as well as with her hand and a flip-flop. According to WDRB, Layne said she once pushed the victim against the toilet as he was urinating, and he fell to the ground and hit his eye.
Additionally, Layne allegedly told authorities she saw her boyfriend stand over the boy and punch him.
According to court documents obtained by WDRB, police recovered a photo from Layne’s Google Photos account that revealed the boy standing and kneeling on rice against his will.
When police asked Smith about what happened before the victim was brought to the hospital, he reportedly said that he discovered the boy unresponsive. According to WDRB, Smith said he concluded that the boy drank rubbing alcohol that had been left out, causing him to vomit and pass out.
Smith did not call 911, but he allegedly dialed Layne, who was at her place of work. Once she arrived from work, the couple reportedly brought the boy to the hospital.
On the way there, Layne told authorities that Smith gave her "the look," which she believed meant "Oh, [EXPLETIVE], I killed him," WDRB reports.
Police said Layne and Smith were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal abuse –– victim under 12.
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