A toddler has died and her mother arrested after the child was sexually assaulted in eastern Kentucky.
The Middlesboro Police Department arrested 21-year-old Erica Lawson, of Mt. Vernon, after her 17-month-old baby girl Elena was taken to Middlesboro Appalachian Regional Hospital on Friday before being airlifted to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee. The toddler died there Sunday night.
While authorities are being tight-lipped on the details surrounding the charges, Lawson was charged with second-degree manslaughter, first-degree criminal abuse (victim under 12), failure to report child abuse, and felony wanton endangerment.
“In my time with the commonwealth, this is one of the most severe cases of abuse, specifically because that baby is 17-months-old …,” Middlesboro Police Department investigator Caley Ayers told WBIR.com.
The toddler’s uncle reported the case of abuse to police in July, but according to Middlesboro Police Chief Petie Gilbert, officers were never able to locate the child, WVLT.com reports.
More arrests are anticipated in the case and Lawson could face additional charges.
She is being held in the Bell County Detention Center on a $1 million cash bond.
(Photo l-r: Erica Lawson, Elena)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
