Salisbury woman charged with fracturing infant’s skull, causing other injuries
Alleged victim is suspect’s two-month-old daughter
ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - A woman was arrested on Friday, charged with felony child abuse for allegedly fracturing the skull of a child and causing other injuries.
According to the arrest warrant, Erika Hubbard, 24, of Hallmark Estates Drive in Salisbury, is accused of fracturing her child’s skull, femur, tibia, and three ribs. The injuries led to a skull hemorrhage, authorities said.
The incident occurred in June, according to the report. Hubbard was arrested at an address in China Grove on Friday.
The investigation began after a pediatrician who was seeing the young girl notified the Department of Social Services and the Rowan Sheriff’s Office. The doctor had noted the infant’s “failure to thrive.” Subsequent x-rays revealed the injuries, investigators said.
“They recognized that there was definitely a ‘failure to thrive’ for the infant, and they made a call, once they did additional checks, they found there were other issues involved as well,” said Major John Sifford of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
Hubbard was charged after the determination was made that the injuries were due to “non-accidental trauma.”
Hubbard is out of jail on a bond of $20,000. Hubbard is due in court on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, this is not something new or surprising for us,” said Erin Moody, the Prevention and Outreach Coordinator for Prevent Child Abuse Rowan and the Terrie Hess House. While not speaking about this specific case, Moody says cases like this aren’t rare, and that help is available.
“The most important thing we can do is if we have any suspicion of child maltreatment, abuse, neglect, we need to make a report to the Department of Social Services, if it’s after hours, we need to call 911,” Moody said.
Moody says the organization can help struggling parents, before it reaches the point of abuse. “There are resources available. Children don’t come with manuals or instruction guides, but we can help with that, we can help develop a skill set for parents that’s healthy that really builds a positive relationship and a safe environment for kids.”
For more information about the services offered through the Terrie Hess House and Prevent Child Abuse Rowan, visit here: https://preventchildabuserowan.org/
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