Two Texas mothers are accused of leaving a 2-month-old baby locked in a bedroom with two young children while they went out drinking and using drugs at a hotel, leading to a horrifying incident that left the infant in a medically induced coma, police said.
Sidney Whitt, 21, and Jacqulun Morales, 29, allegedly left the baby along with two other children, ages 6 and 4, in the care of Morales’ 18-year-old sister, Shelby Munoz, before heading to a local hotel to party with a man, according to reports from KLTV and KYTX.
Police said the children were locked inside a bedroom when the older kids began tossing the 2-month-old around and stomping on the baby’s head.
The infant eventually began having seizures and was later found to have suffered a brain bleed, according to a police press release obtained by the local stations. Doctors also reported extensive bruising to the baby’s face after the child was brought to a hospital.
The baby was placed in a medically induced coma after being hospitalized, KLTV reported.
Child Protective Services and hospital staff notified police on June 18, prompting the Smith County Sheriff’s Office to launch an investigation.
Munoz allegedly told detectives what had happened, but said she did not intervene because the children “were not hers” and she did not believe their safety was her responsibility, according to KLTV.
Police said Whitt and Morales later returned home and found the infant badly injured, but did not get medical help until the following day.
When investigators searched the home where the baby was hurt, they found disturbing living conditions, according to the police press release.
Authorities said the home had no air conditioning and was infested with flies. Investigators also said the floor was heavily littered with rat feces, diapers and clothing.
Munoz and Morales were arrested last Tuesday, while Whitt was arrested Thursday.
All three women were charged with child endangerment and injury to a child. Each was being held on a $250,000 bond for each charge.
As of Friday, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office told KLTV that the infant remained on a ventilator and was still in a medically induced coma.
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