6 people indicted for abusing 4-month-old baby
WESTON, W.Va (WDTV/Gray News) - Six people have been indicted for allegedly abusing a 4-month-old baby.
Eric Auen, Jr. and Alexis Benedum were indicted on child abuse charges.
According to authorities, Benedum was aware that Auen had been abusing the baby since September.
In September, Auen allegedly dropped the baby and the couple did not seek medical treatment.
In October, Benedum refused an appointment in the Child Safety and Advocacy Clinic after the baby had been treated in the emergency room for a skull fracture and humerus fracture, according to authorities.
In November, the baby was treated at the hospital for a possible rib fracture and chest contusion that was the result of Auen allegedly “falling” on him.
On December 6, the baby was itted to WVU Medicine Children’s with a brain bleed, a fractured skull, bleeding behind the eyes, broken ribs, organ damage and bruises on numerous parts of his body.
During an interview with deputies on December 17, Benedum itted to becoming upset over the baby’s continual crying and forcibly shoving a pacifier in his mouth to make him stop crying.
After doing so, she saw blood coming from the baby’s mouth, she said.
During a subsequent medical exam, it was confirmed that the baby had sustained an injury to his ‘lingual frenulum,’ which is a thin fold of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, deputies said.
The couple was arrested in December.
Auen was indicted on four counts of child abuse causing serious bodily injury, two counts of child neglect causing serious bodily injury, two counts of child abuse causing bodily injury, two counts of gross neglect of a child creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury and two counts of malicious assault. All of those charges are felonies.
Alexis Benedum was indicted on seven counts of gross neglect of a child, creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury and one count of child abuse causing serious bodily injury. All of those charges are felonies.
Now, four other people have also been indicted.
Stephen Benedum, Kristina Benedum, Katelyn Bunch and Jessica Embrey were indicted on child neglect charges.
Stephen and Kristina Benedum each face six felony counts of gross neglect of a child, creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Kristina Benedum also faces one misdemeanor count of persons mandated to report suspected abuse.
Bunch and Embrey each face one misdemeanor count of child abuse reporting procedures and five felony counts of gross neglect of a child, creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Bunch also faces one misdemeanor count of persons mandated to report suspected abuse.
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