WESTON, W.Va. — A toddler is fighting for life and two adults responsible for his well being are behind bars facing charges.
State Police this week arrested Caleb Heckert and Corinda Heater in Lewis County on charges of child neglect resulting in serious injury after their three-year old boy wound up shot in the face.
“The parents are claiming the child found a gun and shot himself in the face,” said Cpl. Jason Hensley of the West Virginia State Police.
The incident happened February 17th, but the charges were filed after a lengthy investigation which involved a number of interviews with the parents along with relatives and others with ties to Heckert and Heater.
According to Hensley, the pair may face additional charges or could have those charges upgraded because investigators are not convinced the stories the parents told is the complete story.
“That charge is going off what the parents gave investigating officers, which is the gun was left out where the child could get it and the child shot himself,” Hensley said. “Obviously there’s still questions we’re trying to answer, so the investigation is ongoing, but that is what we have at the moment.”
The child is in critical condition at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. Heater and Heckert are lodged in the Central Regional Jail in Flatwoods, W.Va.