Honk News (Sapulpa, OK) – An Oklahoma couple has been convicted of child abuse and neglect following an incident in which their 3-week-old baby’s femur was fractured during a diaper change, resulting in significant prison sentences for both individuals.
Jeannie Romero, 25, has received a five-year prison sentence for child abuse and neglect in Indian Country, as announced by U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill and detailed in a press release from the U.S. Justice Department. The Department of Justice has revealed that the inquiry involving Jeannie Romero and her spouse, Jacob Romero, 24, commenced in October 2022, following their admission of their 3-week-old newborn to the hospital.
In the course of the investigation, Jeannie Romero acknowledged employing “unreasonable force” while diapering her infant, leading to the “breaking of the baby’s femur in half,” as stated by the Justice Department.
However, the statement indicated that Jeannie Romero waited “48 hours” before seeking medical care for her baby. The report indicated that while Jacob Romero was absent during the incident, the injury was apparent upon his return home, and he did not seek assistance for the infant.
Upon bringing the baby in for medical care, the doctor observed “additional injuries consistent with abuse.” The infant and another sibling were taken from the Romeros and placed under the care of relatives. The announcement highlighted that Jeannie Romero and her newborn were part of the Muscogee (Creek) tribe, leading to the FBI’s involvement following an initial inquiry by the Sapulpa Police Department.
Jacob Romero faced a conviction for child neglect in Indian Country, resulting in a sentence of two years in prison along with five years of supervised release, handed down in June 2024. Jeannie Romero, presently in custody, is anticipated to be moved to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to begin her sentence.