Police have charged three Missouri residents with child neglect after discovering a small child under their care in severe physical distress.
James Lamb of Kirksville, Mo., faces five counts of felony child abuse against his 4 year-old daughter, while Aireal Cole and Derrick Barnby each face two counts.
Police discovered the girl in an unresponsive condition on Dec. 12 at a home in Kirksville. She had numerous bruises and other physical injuries, according to affidavits signed by Det. Aaron Followwill.
After being airlifted to a children’s hospital in Saint Louis, doctors discovered that the child was suffering from severe brain injuries, including hemorrhaging, as well as an “altered mental state,” malnutrition, and “extensive” cavities in her teeth.
When Det. Followwill interviewed Lamb, he reported being told the girl had fallen down the stairs six days prior, but said he didn’t think the injuries were severe. Upon phoning a relative of Barnby who Lamb described as a “medical professional,” Lamb said they were told to monitor the child and to give her Tylenol and Motrin, according to the affidavits.
But doctors allegedly found several signs that Lamb may not have been honest with police, according to the affidavits, which claimed the extensive nature of the child’s injuries were inconsistent with a single fall down the stairs.
In the affidavits, police also said the fall down the stairs wouldn’t explain what authorities described as the girl’s “severe malnutrition” which caused her to be “significantly underweight,” as well her cavities. Further, another child removed from the home, Lamb’s 1-year-old daughter, was allegedly found to be suffering from severe diaper rash.
Lamb, Cole, and Barnby, the three caretakers of the children, were placed under arrest on Dec. 19. When Followwill interviewed Lamb again, Lamb allegedly admitted he had anger issues but denied taking that anger out on others, according to the affidavits.
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Lamb denied abusing his daughter, and said he believed Cole and Barnby had not either, but Followwill reported Lamb couldn’t provide an alternate explanation for the injuries aside from a fall down the stairs, the affidavits state.
Lamb and Cole are being held in the Adair County Jail pending a bond hearing, according to court records. Barnby was released on his own recognizance on Dec. 23.
The Missouri State Public Defender’s office, which is representing Lamb, did not immediately return a request for comment from PEOPLE. Attorney information was not immediately available for Cole or Barnby.
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