A boy’s speech delay prevented him from telling his dad he was being abused.
Nick Fellows broke down in tears when he saw his 3-year-old son bloodied and bruised after he was nearly whipped to death with a dog leash, according to his dad.
According to WLWT, police told Fellows that the boy’s mother and her boyfriend were responsible for the beating that landed Jaxsin Fellows in the hospital on September 17.
Nick said:
“I don’t know what part she played in this, but he was mainly responsible. She was responsible for not doing anything and letting it happen.”
Sgt. Philip Ridgell told the Cincinnati Enquirer:
“In my experience, it’s one of the worst (cases) I’ve seen.”
Jaxsin suffered severe injuries on his head and face, including multiple abrasions, a swollen eye, and chipped teeth.
The boy’s mother, Karen Spurlock, and her boyfriend, Shane C. Sasher, claimed that the 3-year-old’s injuries resulted from falling down the steps.
Police say the couple:
“Thought he was deceased” the morning after the alleged assault.
Investigators eventually learned Jaxsin was home alone with Spurlock and Sasher the night before the incident.
The pair denied any involvement in the abuse allegations.
Police arrested the pair after medical professionals determined Jaxsin had:
“Significant facial injuries consistent with abuse.”
Spurlock and Sasher were both charged with assaulting the 3-year-old. They face criminal abuse and second-degree assault charges.
According to Fox 19, Jaxsin now feels protected under the care of his dad and grandmother. Fellows said:
“He definitely feels a lot safer. He used to wake up crying in the night, and we never knew why. This may have had something to do with it.”
The family hopes to get the boy speech therapy in the future to help with his limited speech caused by premature birth.
They set up a GoFundMe to help with his medical bills and recovery treatment.