What in the hell is wrong with people? This happened in a small town near Savannah, Georgia.

Baby still critical; father arrested in child-abuse case
By Wayne Hodgin
Created 2008-01-30 00:30

SPRINGFIELD - A 10-month-old infant remained in critical condition Tuesday at a Savannah hospital, but the baby boy is responding after being hospitalized for more than a week.

Meanwhile, the boy's father has been arrested on child abuse charges and has joined the child's mother in Effingham County Jail.

Effingham County sheriff's officials arrested Phillip Wesley Waller, 20, of 1162 Old Louisville Road in Guyton, about 4 p.m. Monday - one week to the day after the arrest of his live-in girlfriend and the mother of the child, Tina Marie Richards, 19.

Waller was charged with felony cruelty to a child in the first degree, cruelty to a child in the second degree, obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer and giving false identity to a law enforcement officer.

His arrest Monday stemmed from a Jan. 21 incident in which Richards was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, cruelty to a child in the first degree and cruelty to a child in the second degree.

According to a family member, sheriff's officials discovered signs that the baby boy's clothes had been sewn to his crib and that string had been used to bind his feet together.

Duct tape also has been sent to the state crime lab for tests, according to a sheriff's report. A family member said authorities believe the tape might have been placed over the baby's mouth and that saliva tests could prove that theory.

This was the second time Richards had been arrested on charges of child abuse. Court records show she was arrested July 19 on one count of child abuse and two counts of battery after Richards' mother, Kimberly Kellam of Ellabell, who was caring for the child, noticed her grandson had a black eye, appeared sedated, became sick and vomited a green liquid, and had multiple bruises on his arms and shoulders.

Representatives at the Effingham County Division of Family and Children's Services also were notified, according to the reports.

In November, Effingham County Superior Court Judge F. Gates Peed convicted Richards and sentenced her to five years on probation, including a 12-month probation to serve concurrently with the other counts. Peed also ordered her to undergo parenting classes.

According to the family member, who was reached at her home Tuesday in Tennessee and who asked to remain anonymous, Richards at the time of her sentencing was given a choice of either placing the baby boy, known as Aiden, in foster care or giving custody of the child to Richards' father. Richards opted for the latter.

"I believe the only reason why my son is in trouble is because he lied to the authorities about what happened to Aiden," the woman said.

"He lied about Tina abusing my grandchild. Why? I don't know. I guess he loved her and didn't want to see her get into trouble again. But I don't think - and the investigators I've talked to have told me that they don't think - my son abused the child."

The baby, according to the family member, was still in critical condition Tuesday at Memorial University Medical Center. Hospital officials, citing federal law, would not discuss any details about the child's medical condition.

The family member, however, said the infant boy is showing signs of recovery but that he still has a long way to go. She said the child's nose had been broken, and bruises and bite marks were apparent all over his body.

The boy is still breathing with the aid of a tube. His brain initially showed some swelling. But, the family member said, the swelling was going down, and he was responding to treatment.

This is getting to be a really crazy, mad, mixed up world. People just go nuts and don't think what in the world they are doing.

That's so sad!

that is absolutely disgusting. It makes me so sick.

I know I told my sister, I wanted to load up and go over there, not sure who I want to strangle the most, mom, dad, or the dfacs worker.