Woman arrested on suspicion of abusing 8-year-old boy

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman on suspicion of abusing an 8-year-old boy and described it in a statement as “one of the worst cases of child abuse they have investigated in their careers.”

Claudia Genis, 29, was booked into a Pinal County jail after surrendering to authorities on Tuesday, according to a PCSO statement.

Sheriff ’s deputies responded to a call on Sept. 8 about the potential child abuse of an 8-year-old patient receiving treatment in a nearby hospital.

The boy suffered from multiple broken bones and internal organ injuries. Doctors believed the injuries were consistent with abuse and contacted law enforcement. However, the boy’s mother told medical staff and law enforcement that his injuries were a result of falling off his skateboard, according to PCSO.

The child suffered such severe injuries that he was flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in critical condition for emergency surgery. The boy spent the next several weeks in the hospital recovering from his injuries, according to PCSO.

Both doctors and law enforcement believe that he had been injured anywhere from 24- 48 hours prior to being brought to the hospital, PCSO officials stated.

“This case is truly heartbreaking, the fact someone could do this to an innocent child,” PCSO Sheriff Mark Lamb said in a statement.

PCSO began an investigation, and the child’s mother cooperated with the officers; however the partner of the child’s mother, Genis, refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Detectives found evidence in Genis’ phone that she was attempting to fabricate a story for law enforcement.

The boy has since been placed in the custody of Child Services.

“I am thankful our Detectives were able to get to the bottom of it, and free this child from his abuser,” Lamb said.