The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 03:00 PM
Cocke County Parents Arrested On Child Abuse, Other Charges After Their Three Month Old Son Suffers Bleeding From Brain, Broken Ribs
Marissa Cook, 22, and Michael Frasier, 21, were arrested and charged with violating Haley's Law (TCA 39-15-402), which includes aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect or endangerment.
According to the sheriff's department, the three-month-old required medical treatment for severe injuries. The arrest warrant for the child's mother said the child was taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) and was bleeding from the brain. The child also suffered numerous broken ribs.
Investigators looked into what caused the injuries and determined that the child's parents were at fault. According to the mother's arrest warrant, investigators said the defendant stated that she was "overstressed and had a major lack of sleep and simply lost her cool," grabbing the infant and shaking the child.
Investigators also said the mother was accused of assaulting the baby in a separate incident. Doctors at East Tennessee Children's Hospital told investigators the child's injuries were not accidental.
According to the arrest warrant for the child's father, Frasier was aware of the child's injuries, but he "did nothing to report the assault."
Investigators said the child's injuries were "projected to be permanent."
Haley's Law violations are Class B felonies; however, since the child in this case was less than 8 years of age, the penalty against the child's parents is a Class A felony.
