An Arkansas mother, just 19 years old, has been taken into custody following accusations of inflicting severe abuse on her 6-month-old infant, with medical professionals comparing the child’s injuries to those sustained in a significant car crash.
On Monday, Ryanne Elizabeth Foster was arrested and faces a charge of second-degree battery resulting in injury to a minor under the age of 12, according to records examined by Law&Crime.
The allegation against Foster originates from July 10, 2024, when authorities from the Jonesboro Police Department were dispatched following a report about an infant admitted to the hospital with serious injuries, as reported by Jonesboro Right Now. The baby was first taken to St. Bernards Hospital, but because of the critical nature of the infant’s condition, they were quickly moved to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, for advanced treatment.
Authorities engaged with Foster and her spouse at the medical facility regarding the events surrounding their baby’s injuries. The parents shared that their child was born prematurely and has experienced seizures since coming home from the neonatal intensive care unit. The father allegedly observed that the seizures occurred in his absence and that Foster consistently declined to pursue medical help each time.
A report reveals that during the interview, the officer observed that Foster consistently described the victim using the term “a potato.” Foster allegedly stated that her infant’s injuries happened during the latest seizure, which resulted in the child tumbling off the couch.
Authorities observed that the couch Foster stated the infant fell from was only as high as his knee, according to Jonesboro Right Now.
Furthermore, medical professionals who attended to the infant informed investigators that the child was experiencing “mixed bleeding on both sides of the brain, micro-bruising on the front and back of the brain,” along with fractures in the arms and legs.
“When I asked the doctor about what could cause injuries like this in a 6-month-old child, I was told that it would have to be a very bad car accident or physical abuse,” police wrote in a probable cause affidavit.
In the ongoing investigation, law enforcement engaged with the father of the victim once more. The father informed investigators that he had departed from Foster and vacated the residence, expressing his fear that remaining with her could result in the infant being “in danger of death,” according to KAIT.
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The father shared that Ryanne referred to their baby as a “sack of flour” and remarked that Foster seemed to have a stronger emotional bond with their dog than with the baby.
Foster has been taken into custody at the Craighead County Detention Center, where she remains held on a bond set at $50,000. If released, the judge mandated that she must not have any contact with the victim. Her court appearance is set for December 17, 2024.