An Indiana couple is facing charges related to a child abuse case involving a 6-month-old baby. Police arrested 30-year-old Zachary Robert Roderick Walsh of Muncie on February 10 after he allegedly spanked his baby, leaving marks all over the infant's body. Police arrested his wife, 28-year-old Savanna Maryelise Walsh, on Wednesday, on charges related to failure to report child abuse.
According to the Muncie Star Press, the Indiana State Department of Child Services contacted police to aid them in investigating the alleged child abuse. Police took Zachary Walsh into custody after examining the child, who allegedly had visible signs of continued abuse. Savanna Walsh witnessed what her husband called a "spanking" and did not intervene, which investigators say makes her guilty in the crime as well, the Star Press reported.
The infant's body was badly beaten.
When police arrived, they removed the child's diaper and reportedly saw "red marks, bruising … (and) blood welts," the Star Press reported. Officers wrote in their report, "From the looks of the injuries, it appeared this had happened more than once, as some of the (bruises) were fresh and old." The child also reportedly had red marks on his left cheek and nose.
Zachary Walsh said it was discipline.
When interviewed by investigators, the father reportedly admitted to spanking the baby because he wasn't eating. He claimed he was disciplining the child. He denied hitting the baby on his face.
According to the Delaware County Sheriff's arrest records, Zachery Walsh faces charges of felony battery-serious bodily injury and child abuse and neglect-false reporting. He was in Delaware County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Savanna Walsh reportedly left the baby with her husband.
She witnessed her husband repeatedly striking the baby but did nothing, the Star Press reported. Instead, according to the news outlet, she "got up and walked outside to go smoke." Because she did not attempt to stop or report the abuse, she was arrested four days after her husband was taken into custody.
Savanna Walsh was preliminarily charged with neglect of a dependent and failure to report child abuse. She was released from the Delaware County jail on Wednesday after posting a $6,000 bond.
Infants are often targets of child abuse.
Because of their size and vulnerability, infants often fall victim to child abuse, according to Healthychildren.org. Approximately 4 million child abuse cases are reported yearly, affecting nearly 7 million children. Among those cases, almost 25% involve children younger than 3. The organization notes that as many as 1 in 20 children has been physically abused.
There are common risk factors in abuse cases.
Children who are abused often come from homes where a parent suffers from mental health issues or may have a personal history of child abuse. Additionally, parental domestic violence and substance abuse can contribute to child abuse, according to Healthychildren.org. Abused children are often afraid to talk about the abuse, so it may continue for extended periods.
"The longer children continue to be abused or are left to deal with the situation on their own, the harder it is for them to be able to heal and to develop optimally physically and mentally," the organization states.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
