Two parents in Florida have been arrested after their 1-month-old son died with bruises, scratches and lacerations that covered his body.
Ashton Kurant and Gabriella Daniels have been charged with aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm and neglect of a child causing great bodily harm.
Daniels, 22, called police after she found the boy unresponsive shortly before noon on Thursday, April 16, at the couple’s apartment, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit viewed by Law & Crime. Paramedics quickly reported to the scene, where they found the boy. He was pronounced dead soon after around 12:30 p.m.
While at the home, authorities noted the boy had multiple bruises along his hairline, as well as several scratches and lacerations that covered his body.
Parents Arrested After 5-Month-Old Dies in Suspected Child Abuse Case
Both parents were given their Miranda warnings before they told officers that they didn’t know how the boy suffered the injuries. Officers said that the couple gave “inconsistent statements” regarding what times they fed and changed the boy, while Kurant, 21, also allegedly admitted to using marijuana while he took care of his son.
Amid the investigation, police learned that the Department of Children and Families was “involved” with the family and they saw the child six days before his death on April 10. The affidavit stated that the boy did not have any injuries at the time of the visit. However, it’s not currently clear why the department was visiting the couple’s home in the first place.
Police are still working to determine the cause and manner of the boy’s death, which will be revealed once the autopsy is completed.
Once the autopsy results come back, Kurant and Daniels could potentially face additional charges based on the boy’s cause and manner of death.
While the affidavit stated that the boy was injured, the paperwork did not detail how authorities believe the victim suffered the injuries.
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The affidavit stated that the infant was not enrolled in daycare and has always been under the supervision of his parents.
Both Kurant and Daniels are currently in custody at the Pinellas County Jail on a $750,000 bond. A future court date regarding the charges has not yet been publicly revealed.
It is not currently clear if Kurant and Daniels have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
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