In a shocking case in Kentucky, a 24-year-old mother, identified as B. Lair, and her 25-year-old boyfriend, identified as J. Sneed, were arrested and charged after an incident in which Lair’s 3-year-old son sustained significant injuries that required hospitalization while in Sneed’s care.
The police department was notified of the child’s condition after he was taken to a children’s hospital last week on Sunday. The child’s account to investigators confirms the medical personnel’s determination that the injuries were consistent with immersion in scorching liquid. He allegedly told them his mom’s boyfriend “did this to my hands,” implying that Sneed deliberately immersed his hands in hot water.
According to police records, the boy was left alone with Sneed by his mother for about an hour on April 6, despite Child Protective Services’ instructions not to do so. The CPS had earlier instructed Lair because of an ongoing investigation into another criminal abuse complaint against Sneed. Following the event, Lair allegedly put off getting medical assistance for her baby for up to three hours. To make matters worse, she misled the medical team about the cause of her son’s injuries. Charges were filed against her as a result of her deliberate misrepresentation and decision to leave her son in a potentially hazardous position.
Lair is charged with first-degree child abuse, while Sneed is charged with first-degree child abuse as well as an additional assault offense. Both pleaded not guilty during their arraignment. Sneed’s cash bond was set at $15,000, while Lair’s was at $10,000. The gravity of the claims mirrors the severe legal consequences for their behavior.
The police affidavit emphasized the gravity of the situation: “The totality of the suspects’ intentional actions led to the victim, whom [Lair] has parental custody over, being placed in a situation in which he received serious physical injuries.” According to local media, Lair worked as an instructional assistant in an elementary school. Her work status is currently being reviewed due to the charges.
As the legal proceedings continue, Lair and Sneed remain held at the Department of Corrections, awaiting further court action on April 15. The case has not just legal repercussions, but it also raises serious issues about child safety and the processes in place to protect the most vulnerable from those who should be protecting them the most. This tragic occurrence emphasizes the crucial need for attention and rigorous obedience to Child Protective Services procedures, which are intended to avoid such grievous injury to children. The community and the victim’s family now face the tough burden of seeking justice while also assisting a young child in recovering from physical injuries and emotional stress.
