7-Month-Old Baby Dies Of Severe Brain Injuries, Rib Fractures And Abrasions; Parents Indicted

A Kentucky couple has been indicted after their 7-month-old baby died of severe brain injuries, rib fractures and multiple abrasions.

Madison County Grand Jury indicted 22-year-old Cody Northern and 23-year-old Savannah Northern from Berea with a capital murder charge and nine counts of first-degree criminal abuse Wednesday. The couple was originally arrested on charges of manslaughter after their infant's death on Sept. 4, reported news outlet Richmond Register.

On the day of the child's demise, Berea police deputies responded to the couple's home on a report of an infant who was not breathing. The baby was transported to a hospital but was pronounced dead.

Both the suspects said the child choked while drinking from a bottle. However, a medical examination indicated that the child had severe injuries that were not related to choking, WBON TV reported.

An autopsy determined that the child's death was caused by brain hemorrhages, spinal cord hemorrhage and multiple rib fractures. The infant's body also had numerous abrasions and bruises to the head, torso and upper and lower extremities.

During a police interrogation, Savannah, the child's mother, said Cody got up once during the night to give the infant a bottle and put them back to bed. Savannah claimed she did not know how the victim got injured and did not suspect Cody of hurting the child.

However, Savannah also admitted that Cody "blacks out" when he gets mad and does not remember what he does.

Based on the indictment, the alleged abuse is believed to have happened between Jan. 4 and Sept. 2, 2021. The document cited several instances in which both the parents fractured their child's skull and broke his ribs, arms and legs. It also mentioned occasions during which the couple caused bruises all over the child's body.

Recently, a Florida couple was charged after their 11-month-old daughter died of extreme starvation. Mark Brittian, 26, and Margaret Lehman, 23, from Leesburg, were charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child after their infant's death on Aug. 2. Doctors believe the infant, who was extremely underweight and underdeveloped for her age, did not have food for at least two to three days prior to her death.