A couple who severely abused their two-month-old baby, including inflicting catastrophic head trauma, has been sentenced.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office announced on Friday that the baby’s mother, 23-year-old Haley Hartupee and father, 27-year-old Travis Spence, both of Montgomery County, were sentenced to five years and 10 years in prison.
Hartupee, who pled guilty to first-degree criminal abuse of a child, was given five years. Spence was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to first-degree criminal abuse of a child and second-degree criminal abuse of a child.
According to prosecutors, in July 2018, Spence intentionally abused and/or intentionally permitted another to abuse his two-month-old daughter. He inflicted abusive head trauma, resulting in bilateral subdural hematomas and retinal hemorrhages and requiring a permanent shunt to be placed in the baby’s brain. Hartupee unlawfully permitted the abuse.
Spence was also sentenced for the 2021 burning of a six-year-old child with a cigarette that caused significant pain and cruel punishment.
“The extreme abuse perpetrated on these children is sickening. Following our office’s vigorous prosecution of these defendants, it’s my hope these children can find healing and get the childhood they deserve,” Attorney General Russell Coleman said.
Kentucky State Police investigated the cases.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
