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Second arrest made in case of couple accused of breaking child’s arm
Posted On 01 Jul 2015
Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies arrested the second suspect in connection with a toddler who was brought into Baptist Health Corbin last Sunday with a broken arm and head trauma.
According to Sheriff Colan Harrell, Sgt. Kirk Mays and deputy John Hill with the assistance of Kentucky State Police arrested 25-year-old Kenneth Byrd Friday night at a residence in the Rockholds community.
"They received a tip and went to the residence where they found him hiding in the attic," Harrell said.
In addition to the warrant charging him with first-degree criminal abuse of a child under the age of 12, Byrd was charged with resisting arrest and second-degree fleeing or evading police.
Byrd is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond.
At her arraignment Tuesday in Whitley District court, Byrd’s co-defendant, 28-eight-year-old Felisha Smith, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree criminal abuse of a child age 12 or under.
Mays said the 17-month-old child was brought to the hospital emergency room about 1 p.m. with trauma to the head and arm, multiple bruises and swelling to the head.
Smith reportedly told emergency room personnel that the child had fallen off the porch.
Police were contacted and when Mays arrived and spoke with Smith, she reportedly told him that her boyfriend, later identified as Byrd, had punched the child several times in the head and twisted the child’s left arm behind its back, breaking it in the process.
“She told a thousand different stories,” Mays said, noting that Smith said the reason Byrd beat the child was because it had woke him up and he got mad.
Smith reportedly told Mays that the incident occurred about 8:30 a.m. Saturday but waited until Sunday afternoon before seeking medical treatment.
The child was taken on to the University of Kentucky Medical Center for further treatment.
Smith remains in the Whitley County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond.
She is scheduled to return to court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is probable cause to present the case to a Whitley County grand jury.
Under Kentucky Law, first-degree criminal abuse is a class C felony, carrying a potential prison sentence of five to ten years.
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You need to lock this boy up for good. He’s a child molester and he don’t need to be around children or anyone for this matter. He is mentally sick and does not deserve to be out in society. He trys to hurt his family and anyone who is around him. I know him personally and I would rather him be put away for good than to see him hurt someone or another child for that matter. I wouldn’t have gave him a bond at all because if he makes bond all he will do is run. I also believe he is wanted in Tennessee also. People don’t need to feel sorry for this sick punk or her for letting this happen to a child. He will do it again and maybe even kill someone.
You need to lick this biy up for good. He’s a child molester and he don’t need to be around children or anyone for this matter. He is mentally sick and does not deserve to be out in society. He trys to hurt his family and anyone who is around him. I know him personally and I would rather him be put away for good than to see him hurt someone or another child for that matter. I wouldn’t have gave him a bond at all because if he makes bond all he will do is run. I also believe he is wanted in Tennessee also. People don’t need to feel sorry for this sick punk or her for letting this happen to a child. He will do it again and maybe even kill someone.