2-month-old’s life-threatening injuries prompts police to arrest Selma parents

SELMA, Ind. — Two Selma parents face severe criminal charges after their 2-month-old child was found to be suffering from life-threatening injuries that doctors believed were the result of child abuse.

Mystique Scott, 22, and Shon Taylor, 20, were arrested on Wednesday on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury, a Level 1 felony.

Sponsored

class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">

According to court documents, Delaware County Sheriff’s Department deputies were contacted on Aug. 1 after a severely injured infant arrived at the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Doctors told deputies the 2-month-old child had multiple fractures to various parts of its body and cited the injuries as severe and life-threatening.

Deputies spoke to the child’s parents, Scott and Taylor, who offered little to no explanation for the injuries. Both claimed to have never hurt the child and couldn’t explain why the baby was so seriously injured.

Doctors believe the injuries are the result of severe child abuse, with some of the injuries in various stages of healing. Court documents reveal that medical experts did not believe the injuries could be accidental.

When further questioned, Taylor deflected knowledge of the baby’s injuries by claiming to “black out” and not remember things.

Scott later claimed that perhaps the child was injured during a fight with her mother. Scott claimed she was holding the baby when her mother attacked her. During this altercation, Scott said the baby’s head hit the refrigerator.

The story contradicted an earlier version told to police by Scott, however, where she claimed the infant wasn’t injured during the domestic fight.

According to court documents, Scott became angry and requested a lawyer when investigators pushed further for answers.

At the time of publication, no official charges have been filed in this case. The Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office will make final charging decisions.

If convicted of a Level 1 felony, Scott and Taylor face up to 40 years in prison.