MEDIA RELEASE
Release: Immediate
January 28, 2016
Lebanon,
Boone County, Indiana – Prosecuting Attorney Todd J. Meyer
announced today that
according to a Charging
Information filed this afternoon in Boone Circuit Court, Mitchel Shue and
Miranda Roberts were each charged with Neglect of a Dependent Child Resulting
in Death, a Level 1 Felony. Mitchel Shue
was also charged with Maintaining a Common Nuisance, a Level 6 Felony; Possession of Marijuana, a Class B
Misdemeanor; and Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class C Misdemeanor.
These charges arise out of a joint investigation conducted by the Boone
County Sheriff's Department and the Thorntown Police Department.
The Criminal Information
alleges that on or about January 20, 2016, while in the care and custody of his
parents, Mitchel Shue and Miranda Roberts, baby D.S., who was 2 months of age,
was placed in a situation that endangered his life and health in that Mitchel
Shue and/or Miranda Roberts violently shook baby D.S. causing him to suffer
multiple brain injuries. As a result of his injuries baby D.S. suffered a
cardiac arrest, was revived by EMTs and transported to Peyton Manning’s Children’s
Hospital at St. Vincent, where he again suffered cardiac arrest. Medical personnel at Peyton Manning’s Children’s
Hospital were again able to revive him and he was placed on life support. Baby D.S. was declared brain dead on January
22, 2016 and was later removed from life support. Baby D.S. died at Peyton Manning’s Children’s
Hospital on January 23, 2016.
“This case brings
tears to my eyes” said Prosecuting Attorney Todd J. Meyer, “not only because of
what happened to this baby and what he suffered through, but because it was
absolutely preventable.” “I know this
happens, unfortunately, all too often, but I cannot for the life of me
comprehend how someone could hurt a baby like this.” “D.S. was a perfectly healthy 2 month old baby
boy at his last doctor’s checkup a week or so ago and now he is gone from
us.” “The persons responsible for this
baby’s death will be held accountable” said Prosecutor Meyer.
Prosecutor Meyer,
who chairs Boone County’s Child Fatality Review Team and serves on the State’s Child
Fatality Review Team, further stated that “there is help for parents or
caregivers who find themselves in a situation where they are frustrated with an
infant or child.” Gretchen Martin, who
is the Child Fatality Review Program Coordinator for the Indiana State Department of Health identified the
following resources available to parents and caregivers:
- Centers for Disease Control – Abusive Head Trauma website
- National Center of Shaken Baby Syndrome program called the “Period of Purple Crying”
http://purplecrying.info/sub-pages/what-is-the-period-of-purple-crying/components-of-the-program.php
- National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome – Educational materials aimed at fathers/men who care for infants
“Through this
tragedy, it is important for the public to know some facts about shaken baby
syndrome and how it can be prevented,” said Prosecutor Meyer who further stated:
“according to research in the area, crying is the #1 trigger for shaking, and
the data shows that shaking occurs most often during the developmental period
between 2 weeks and 3-4 months, when babies tend to cry the most and are hard
to console.”
According to the
CDC, abusive head trauma (AHT), which includes shaken baby syndrome, is a
preventable and severe form of physical child abuse that results in an injury
to the brain of an infant or child. AHT
is most common in children under age five, with children under one year of age
at most risk. It is caused by violent shaking or blunt impact. The resulting injury can cause bleeding
around the brain or on the inside back layer of the eyes. Nearly all victims of AHT suffer serious,
long-term health consequences such as vision problems, developmental delays,
physical disabilities, and hearing loss. At least one of every four babies who
experience AHT dies from this form of child abuse. Research shows that AHT often happens when a
parent or caregiver becomes angry or frustrated from a child’s crying. The
caregiver then shakes the child, hitting or slamming the child’s head into
something in an effort to stop the crying.
Crying—including
long bouts of inconsolable crying—is normal behavior in infants. Shaking,
throwing, hitting, or hurting a baby is never the right response to crying.
How Can Abusive Head Trauma Be Prevented?
You can play a
key role in preventing AHT by understanding the dangers of violently shaking or
hitting a baby’s head into something, knowing the risk factors and the triggers
for abuse, and finding ways to support parents and caregivers in your
community.
If you are a parent or caregiver
• Understand
that infant crying is worse in the first few months of life, but it will get
better as the child grows.
• Try
calming a crying baby by rocking gently, offering a pacifier, singing or
talking softly, taking a walk with a stroller, or going for a drive in the car.
• If
the baby won’t stop crying, check for signs of illness and call the doctor if
you suspect the child is sick.
• If
you are getting upset or losing control, focus on calming yourself down. Put
the baby in a safe place and walk away to calm down, checking on the baby every
5 to 10 minutes.
• Call a friend, relative, neighbor, or
parent helpline for support.
If you are a friend, family member, or observer of
a parent or caregiver
• Be aware of new parents in your
family and community who may need help or support.
• Provide support by offering to give a
parent or caregiver a break when needed.
• Let
the parent know that dealing with a crying baby can be very
frustrating—especially when you are tired or stressed, but infant crying is
normal and it will get better soon.
• Encourage
parents and caregivers to take a calming break if needed while the baby is safe
in the crib.
• Be sensitive and supportive in
situations when parents are trying to calm a crying baby.
Prosecutor Meyer added:
“If you find yourself in a situation where you don’t think you’re in a
condition to continue to watch after an infant or child, step out of the room
and take a 3 minute break to collect yourself, pick up the phone, call one of
the numbers referenced in the websites above, make a call to a friend, a family
member or a neighbor, do anything that
will keep you and your baby safe, don’t let your frustration cause you to do any
harm to the infant or child you are caring for.”
If convicted of
the Child Neglect Resulting in Death charges, each of the Defendants face a
maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Shue also faces an additional 3 years in
prison and an $11,500 fine if convicted of the drug charges.
Shue and Roberts were both taken into custody on Tuesday, January 26,
2016 and are being held without bond at the Boone County Jail pending their
initial hearings. An initial hearing on
the Charges will be scheduled before the Honorable J. Jeffrey Edens, Judge of
the Boone Circuit Court later this week.
This
investigation is active and ongoing.
The Charging Information is an allegation only, and the defendants are
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial or by guilty plea.
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