Parents Charged With Child Abuse After Newborn Found Dead In Hotel Room, Two Others With Head Injuries Rescued

A couple, who has five children, was arrested on suspicion of child abuse after a one-month-old baby was found dead in a hotel room and two other children were found with head injuries in Phoenix on Sunday.

According to court documents, police responded to a call regarding an unresponsive one-month-old infant at the Phoenix Inn hotel. The responding officers pronounced the baby dead at the scene. Four other children, which included another one-month-old baby, were rescued from the scene. The parents, identified as 29-year-old Emmaline Amelia Ramirez and 38-year-old Donald Ferguson, claimed that the infant died from choking and was not breathing several times. However, they did not seek any immediate medical help for the child.

Meanwhile, the four other children underwent a medical examination which revealed that the one-month-old infant was having trouble breathing. The child was transported to a medical center, where it was confirmed that the baby suffered several traumatic head injuries and had bleeding in the brain. Further evaluation showed that a 15-month-old toddler also suffered multiple fractures to the skull.

Investigators found that the children were covered in dirt and had insects crawling out of their ears. They were also reportedly wearing extremely soiled diapers and were taken in by the State Department of Child Safety.

Meanwhile, the parents were arrested. Ferguson denied hitting the children, although, he did admit to hitting his wife. However, their four-year-old child told investigators that Ferguson had thrown the dead infant to the ground. The autopsy report of the infant, however, showed no signs of traumatic injuries.

The parents admitted that they failed to seek immediate medical help for any of their children when needed. Both of them were charged with two counts of child abuse with intent. Ferguson was also charged for resisting arrest. Court records showed that Ramirez was charged with child abuse in the past as well.