Parents Charged After 6-Week-Old Girl Left In Critical Condition With Multiple Brain Bleedings

A North Carolina couple has been charged after their 6-week-old daughter was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, police said Tuesday.

Davidson County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of Zachery Ryan Honeycutt, 23, and Destiny Alisa Watts, 18, from Lexington after their infant daughter was hospitalized with multiple brain bleedings Saturday. The child still remains in critical condition fighting for her life, according to a news release from Davidson County Sheriff's office.

The investigation began after medics identified the injuries of the child consistent with abuse and reported it to police. The couple was arrested from their home in Lexington on Monday.

According to investigators, Honeycutt violently shook the infant for several days causing bleeding on the child's brain in four locations. The alleged abuse happened for the past one week while the infant was at the couple's home, police said. Honeycutt has been charged with felony intentional child abuse and inflicting serious bodily injury, Journal Now reported.

Watts, who has been accused of failing to take care of her infant daughter, showed "reckless disregard for human life", according to the arrest affidavit. She was charged with felony negligent child abuse and causing serious bodily injury.

Meanwhile, the officials said the investigation is still active and additional charges can be forthcoming.

“The child is still receiving medical care, and they’re still trying to diagnose all the injuries,” Detective Stephanie Murphy said.

Both Honeycutt and Watts were held under $200,000 secured bonds in Davidson Detention Center. They are scheduled to appear in court for a hearing on Dec. 3.

Earlier this month, a 14-month-old boy was found dead with multiple bruises after police responded to a report of an infant crying from a motel room in Michigan.

The infant's body was found under a pile of blankets in the motel room where his homeless parents lived. The couple, identified as Isaias Aurelio Porras, 31, and Amanda Jajou, 30, was arrested on charges of murder after Porras admitted beating the infant. An autopsy determined that the baby suffered bruises from head to toe and injuries on him included a hematoma to the brain.