BRIGHTON, TN – Tipton County Sheriff’s Deputies say a 4 year-old child died in an Ohio Hospital and now they are investigating it as a case of possible child abuse.
According to investigators, the child was taken to Baptist Tipton for burns. Deputies say the 4 year-old girl was then taken to LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center, before being flown to the Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Investigators say the little girl died at that hospital around 2:30 p.m., Sunday, July 20, 2008.
Detectives say the child’s mother and her boyfriend, Bobby Joseph Jones, are being questioned as “persons of interest” in the case. Police say both Jones and the mother were with the child when the burns happened.
Jones is currently in jail on an unrelated child abuse case, said investigators. According to authorities, Jones has been charged with Felony Child Abuse of a 3 year-old who was also living in the house. Brighton Police say that child had injuries to the upper torso and buttocks.
Investigators say there were three children in the house, a 7 month-old, 3 year-old girl, and the 4 year-old who died at the Shrine Hospital in Ohio. Police say the 3 year-old and the 7 month-old boy are now in the custody of Children’s Services, pending the outcome of the investigation.
