MILLCREEK, Utah, Oct. 20, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Multiple felony charges have been filed against a Millcreek couple accused in a child abuse case that left the female’s 5-year-old son critically injured and on life support.
Charged are Jordan Kay Wills, 26, the child’s biological mother, and John M. Manning, 31, Wills’ fiancé. Charges are four counts of child abuse — infliction of serious physical injury intentionally, a second-degree felony, for both Wills and Manning; and obstructing justice, a third-degree felony, two counts for Wills and one for Manning.
Manning was on parole at the time of his arrest, and has been returned to Utah State Prison.
A probable cause statement filed Friday indicates that on Oct. 11, the young victim, identified in court papers as T.S., was “admitted to Primary Children’s Hospital with multiple injuries, including lacerations, several serious burns, traumatic brain injuries, and multiple other injuries which ‘may be incompatible with life.’
“Doctors reported that the injuries are in different states of healing, indicating that they did not all occur at the same time,” the statement says.
T.S.’s injuries were listed by doctors as:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Subdural hematoma
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage
- A first degree burn to the right foot
- Second-degree burns to multiple other sites
- A scalp laceration
- A lacerated spleen
- A partially collapsed lung
Mills told officials that T.S.’s injuries came from a ground level fall with head injury on Oct. 2, and burns that emerged after the 5 year old was left alone in the bathtub on Oct. 4, the probable cause statement says.
Dr. Corey J. Rood told investigators on Oct. 12 that T.J.’s condition had deteriorated, and he was not expected to survive, the probable cause statement says. Rood also noted that T.S. “… showed very little brain function.”
After being contacted by a family friend on Oct. 10, Unified Police officials began an investigation, and released a statement the next day:
“On Oct. 11, 2018, a 5-year old boy was brought to Primary Children’s Hospital unconscious and unresponsive with numerous injuries,” says a statement from the Unified Police Department.
“The hospital notified the Unified Police Department. Our Violent Crimes and Special Victims Units are actively investigating this case.”
A search warrant was issued on the residence of Wills and Manning, at 4045 S.1300 East, apartment B, ” … and located bloody bed and clothing, large amounts of first aid supplies, both new and used, and bloody flooring,” the probable cause statement says.
Investigators conducted multiple interviews with extended family members and friends of the couple, the statement says. Wills’ mother and stepfather reportedly told police that when the mother, identified as Ms. Sorenson, touched T.S.’s leg on a July visit, the boy cried in pain.
“T.S. told them his dad (meaning Manning) had kicked him,” the statement says. “They questioned T.S. further, and he said that he had been ‘smacked’ with a belt and that his dad hit him with a closed fist because T.S. had said the ‘F word.’ He further said that his dad hit him in the back with a bat, and broke the bat.”
The Sorensons took photos and turned them over to Unified police after the visit, the statement says.
“At that time, Unified Police went to investigate, and Wills assured them that everything was fine, saying that T.S. had just fallen off his bicycle,” the probable cause statement says, adding that detectives had later examined Wills’ phone, and found it “wiped clean.”
The mother’s parents reported, the family friend reported. The reports were written up. Someone, somewhere at the gov’t level dropped a ball that left a 5yr old suffering further abuse that will cost him his life. People, we are better than this. Call, fist pound, and demand accountability from Utah’sDCFS and the police. Moreover, tell someone BEFORE it’s too late.
Is there anything further on the little boy? I prayed for a miracle but have never seen anything about him since 2018.