Camden man and woman charged in child abuse case
Twin infants placed in grandparents’ care
A Camden woman has been charged with permitting the abuse of a minor and a Camden man has been charged with domestic battery in the first and second degree after a doctor noted signs of abuse in two twin infant girls.
Court documents filed in the 13th District Court of Arkansas show that on July 20, 2022 Ouachita County Sheriff Deputies were called to Ouachita County Medical Center in regards to a 9-week old female that was having breathing issues. The attending physician told deputies that the injuries were a result of blunt force trauma that resulted in brain bleed.
Contact was made with the parents, Sadie Sullivent and Patrick Robertson who stated that they were at their residence and while Sullivent was sleeping, Robertson was watching the infant and put her in a basinet while he used the bathroom. Robertson stated that when he came back “[s]omething was wrong” with the infant.
According to the report, neither parent knew how the injuries could have happened, but noted that the infant fell off of a couch two weeks prior.
The infant was airlifted to Children’s Hospital and treated for injuries. Only July 21 the child was examined by a doctor who diagnosed abusive head trauma and child physical abuse. The affidavit states that known injuries were multiple healing rib fractures, spine compression fractures, intracranial hemorrhaging, swelling in the brain caused by excess fluid, retinal hemorrhages and bruised lung and ligamentous injuries to the neck.
The report states that the physician concluded by testing that the radiologic findings were consistent with severe head injuries and healing fractures. It goes on to state that the “extent and types of [the victim’s] injuries are not consistent with a known medical condition, routine care or with a simple injury accident.”
The doctor also noted that the type of brain juries and transcranial hemorrhage are more frequently encountered with injuries like shaking in combination with impact injuries that are consistent with physical abuse.
The doctor also stated that the infant would most likely be expected to have permanent neurological damage as a result of the injuries.
The report states that after relaying this information to the parents, approximately 30 minutes later the doctor received a phone call from the infant’s case worker who stated that Robertson told her he bumped the child’s head and when asked why he didn’t speak about it before he stated, “Why would they (law enforcement) believe him now?”
The infant’s twin sister was also examined and showed four fractured ribs and a broken femur.
Both infants were placed in the care of their grandparents.