Baby Nearly Smothered With Baby Wipe; Mother and Boyfriend Charged

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Posted: 6:11 PM Sep 12, 2007
Last Updated: 5:14 PM Sep 27, 2007
Reporter: Angela Sparkman
Email Address: angela.sparkman@wymtnews.com

12 comments

Baby Nearly Smothered With Baby Wipe; Mother and Boyfriend Charged - Angela Sparkman Reports

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A man is accused of stuffing a baby wipe down an infant's throat.

That baby's mom is also facing a charge related to the case.

The mother, Shawna Childers, and her boyfriend, Jonathan Crum, are both under investigation after police showed up at Childers' house in Johnson County.

Police say the mother took her baby to the hospital, but now she and her boyfriend are charged with the crime.

Shauna Childers took her eight month old to the Highlands Regional Emergency Room with breathing problems, but doctors were immediately suspicious, and called police.

The abuse charges came when doctors discovered why the baby couldn't breathe.

They found baby wipes lodged in the baby's throat...cutting off his air.

Investigators say doctors didn't believe the child could have swallowed the wipes on his own.

Childers told investigators she wasn't at home when it happened.

“The mother left the infant child with Johnathan Crum, when she returned, she found the child with difficulty breathing and that's when the child was taken to the emergency room,” Trooper Scott Hopkins said.

The baby is now in serious condition at UK Children's Hospital in Lexington.

Crum is charged with first degree criminal abuse and childers is charged with complicity because she left the child alone with Crum.

Crum already pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Childers was just brought from Lexington to Paintsville Wednesday afternoon.

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Posted by: Angry Location: Kentucky on Oct 3, 2007 at 01:24 PM
So she wouldn't have listened anyway? Hmmm...

Posted by: Danny Location: Inez on Sep 27, 2007 at 04:42 AM
Hey Angry... I did not know anything about this guy, I have a thing call work and college so I dont talk to her as much as I would like. But still yet Shaunna may have been in the wrong with some of this but she still is not as bad as ppl is sayin... I would have told her that she was stupid to bring this guy into her home... but it would have done no good she has a mind of her own... And yes she has another child a little girl, who is alive and well.....

Posted by: Lisa Location: Canada on Sep 24, 2007 at 01:52 PM
If Childers has other children in her care, she has had no other files open with children protective services and abusive behaviour in her criminal record than I believe that she should not be charged. I pray that the child will survive and Childers learns something from this.

Posted by: Angry Location: Kentucky on Sep 21, 2007 at 01:30 PM
Hey Danny, if you're such a good friend, WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HER FROM BRINGING THIS LOSER INTO HER HOME??? You could have helped prevent this tragedy if you're so eager to help her and supposedly love her.

Posted by: YouKnoIt Location: KY on Sep 15, 2007 at 09:17 PM
for the hardworking parents out there that leave their children with babysitters remember your not there watching but you did trust the well being of your kids with a stranger!!!! just like this woman did not even for 7mins to run to a bus stop drop her oldest child off at the bus then returning home!!! it happened ina flash..... did she think it would happen GOD NO!!! .... i kno her personally and BETTER THEN KAT FR FLOYD CO!!! WINK this man was a DEADBEAT i completely AGREE!! did she think hed hurt her kids NO!!! did i think this either NO!!!! he pretended to LOVE THOSE KIDS!!! cook and clean up their messes acted like a loving father something i hadnt seen the other BF's do .... i myself was suprised she found someone soo NICE!!! but instead he was a MONSTER!!! and if they release him with a slap on the hand BEWARE PARENTS they wouldve released a MONSTER IN YOUR BACK YARD!!!! PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FR THIS MAN!!!! I HOPE YOU PAY HARD TIME YOU PIECE OF SHIT,WISH I HAD GOTTEN AHOLD OF U

Posted by: Danny (DJ) Location: Inez on Sep 15, 2007 at 12:01 AM
Ok I have known Shaunna for many years and happen to be a good friend of hers. First off she is a good mom she just had bad luck, with this guy. Shaunna loves her kids and would give them the world if she could. So dont be saying that she should have never had her kids or that she herslef should be in jail, you dont know her. No she should have never left her son with him but she did not know that he was going to do this. I also know that if Shaunna ever gets her hands on this man that he will have some problems breathing...... Shaunna just know that your friends love you and are here for you just let us know what we can do to help...

Posted by: Cassandra Location: Kentucky on Sep 14, 2007 at 09:05 AM
I'm sure the guy has a criminal record already. He just looks like the type of scum to do that.

Posted by: Kat Location: Floyd County on Sep 13, 2007 at 09:58 PM
Eh, don't be so quick to jump on your high horse. She is a young Mother. Was it stupid? Yes, it was, but the thing is that she didn't plan for this to happen. I also know her personally. She would never wish any harm on her children. They are her world. Now, am I saying leaving her children with that man a good thing? Oh goodness no! It was very naive on her part to think someone wouldn't harm her children. If her son pulls through this I honestly hope she makes better choices in who she dates. This isn't the first dead beat she's brought in..

Posted by: donny Location: ky on Sep 13, 2007 at 04:44 PM
kids dont have a chance any more,i dont no if its drugs thats doing this or just plane dumb, give this jerks death for killing kids then it might stop,,10 to 20 years in prison not going stop them,,u get that much time for killing a bear,,give them life in prison with hard laber or death them it might stop,,

Posted by: you dont know Location: floyd co on Sep 13, 2007 at 03:07 PM
I know this woman personally. She would not hurt her baby for the world! I am sure she did not know the man was like that. She thinks the world of that baby!! I am sure she regrets it, But I know she did not do it. The man that did do it should DEFINATELY pay hard TIME!!!!! Will he? I doubt it. The mother does not deserve it.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Knox county on Sep 13, 2007 at 02:12 PM
Has anyone else noticed that for the last several weeks all we are seeing on the news is another child being abused. What is wrong with Americans, why have children if you are only going to abuse them? If mothers would not leave their children with every JOE BLOW on the street a lot of this would stop. Although birth parents abuse children,you mainly see it coming from a boyfriend or girlfriend. If our legal system would step up and start doing something with these dead-beats maybe this problem would stop. If these people were going to work on a daily basis instead of drawing a check and having child after child to increase their income maybe they would cherish their children. Mothers I encourage you to please not leave your children in the hands of boyfriends/lovers or what ever they maybe. Keep them close and love them. Remember God has stronger punishment for those who abuse children.

Posted by: disgusted Location: knott co on Sep 12, 2007 at 08:26 PM
Let's take a few baby wipes and cram them in their throats and let them see what it is like!! I am thoroughly disgusted with people like this. Why do people have children if they don't want them? Do they not know about birth control or is it too much trouble for these idiots!!

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