WEBSTER SPRINGS, W.Va. — A Webster County woman is in jail and her 17-month-old daughter is in the hospital with severe injuries.
Bella Carpenter, 20, of Webster Springs, was charged this week with child abuse causing serious bodily injury and conspiracy. State Police were alerted to the case by Child Protective Services who first noticed the child’s severe injuries.
Senior Trooper Nathaniel Hall said Carpenter told a couple of different stories which didn’t add up.
“She said she didn’t know what happened, but believed at first it was some kind of a medical condition even though every hospital said it was otherwise,” Hall told MetroNews. “She then told another CPS worker she thought the baby fell down a set of stairs,” said Hall.
Hall said was never able to get the full story on what caused the girl’s injuries, but they were severe. Court documents indicated the girl suffered a broken shoulder, sternum, and ribs. She also had lung bruising and spinal fractures. The child was initially treated at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital before being transferred to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
“She never did tell me exactly what happened, she claimed she didn’t know. However, with the injuries something took place. The doctor at the hospital advised me the only other way the baby could have gotten the injury that wasn’t physical abuse would have been a serious car accident,” Hall said.
The abuse is believed to have happened between July 2 and July 5. Carpenter was arrested July 10. Even for Hall, who is a seasoned trooper, it was a disturbing case.
“I lost some sleep over that one. I got the case on Monday and I didn’t sleep a whole lot until I arrested her on Friday,” he said.
Carpenter is in the Central Regional Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing is set for Thursday afternoon in Webster County Magistrate Court.