An eastern Kentucky man has been jailed after allegedly raping and strangling a two-year-old girl.
The Richmond Police Department arrested 31-year-old J. Douglas Thomas, of Richmond, and charged him with first-degree criminal abuse (child 12 or younger) and first-degree strangulation.
Richmond police initially responded to the home after receiving a report of an unresponsive child. Prior to police arriving, the toddler was transported to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital for a severe head injury, Kentucky.com reports.
Thomas was babysitting the toddler while the mother took another child to a doctor’s appointment. Thomas told police he was sweeping the living room when he heard a loud bang and then crying coming from the toddler’s room.
The suspect claims to have found the child, face down, after falling about five feet out of a bunk bed. He also claimed the toddler had previously fell and/or jumped out of the bed.
Police spoke with the child’s mother who said she was unaware of her toddler falling or jumping from the bed.
Health officials then told police the child had suffered a brain bleed and a “midline shift,” indicating her brain had shifted past its center line. The child had numerous other injuries, as well.
Furthermore, the child had several bruises and injuries over her body consistent with sexual assault, with health officials saying the toddler’s injuries were not accidental.
Thomas was lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
