Jason Futch
Reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
UPDATED: 11:40 a.m., more information included
Two Suwannee County residents were charged with negligent manslaughter following the death of a 2 year old child. Christian Nicole Parnell, 33, and Curtis David Willey, 33, were arrested on Monday, Oct. 13, after a child was transported to the hospital and later died of injuries allegedly consistent with child abuse.
According to a social media post and probable cause affidavit by the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), on Monday, Oct. 13, at approximately 3:06 p.m., dispatch received a 911 call from Parnell, stating the child was unresponsive at a residence in the 22900 block of 128th Path in Live Oak. According to the post, the caller reported life-saving measures were in progress, which were being performed by Willey.
SCSO deputies and Suwannee County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the scene, where the child was transported to HCA Live Oak. SCSO Investigators Chris Lee and Kim Lane arrived at the hospital to observe the child's treatment, to which he passed away from the injuries he sustained. The affidavit further stated there was "abnormal swelling to [the child's] head, multiple bruises on the legs and groin, and various scars similar to that of a cigarette burn."
During the subsequent investigation, SCSO Special Victims Investigator Bradley Griffin interviewed Parnell, who stated the child sustained an injury to his mouth and head approximately a week before his death, during the night time hours while playing with a four year old within the bedroom of the home. According to the affidavit, the child allegedly fell off the bed, striking his face. Parnell further stated she did not see the incident due to being asleep on the couch, but had been later informed of the incident by Willey. She said the injury at first did not seem severe, by Saturday, Oct. 11, the child's head began to swell and cause discoloration, along with a loss of appetite and "acting lethargic."
Parnell told Inv. Griffin on Monday, Oct. 13, while at work, Willey called her, informing her that the child needed to be transported to the hospital. When she arrived home over two hours later, Parnell saw Willey and the child sitting on the couch. While preparing to take the child to the hospital, he became unresponsive, prompting Parnell to contact 911.
When Willey was interviewed by Inv. Griffen, he also said the child had fallen off the bed in the bedroom while playing with his juvenile son. He said he was in the living room at the time of the incident when he heard a loud sound coming from the bedroom. Upon entering the room, Wiley witnessed the child with a bloody injury to his mouth with a binky still in his mouth and swelling to his forehead.
Willey further stated on Monday, Oct. 13, he called Parnell at her work to inform her the child needed to go to the hospital and had observed the child "rolling" his eyes. When she came home, Willey said the child started making "gurgling" sounds, to which he picked the child up and patted his back, causing the child to vomit. During the phone call with dispatch, Willey said the child was responsive for most of the phone call despite administering CPR. He could not recall any further injuries the child sustained other than an unexplained bump on his head since the initial incident.
When given a post-miranda interview at the SCSO Criminal Investigations Division, Parnell denied knowing how the child sustained the injuries, but admitted she should have sought medical care sooner. She further stated she never took the child to the hospital, nor did she allow him to go to school due to the injuries he had and having the inability to explain how they were sustained. Willey's post-miranda interview was redacted from the affidavit.
Inv. Griffin concluded both of their stories were not consistent with the extent of the injuries the child had and should have sought medical treatment due to the severity of the injuries. "Parnell and Willey grossly and flagrantly disregarded the medical needs of [the child], to the extent that he ultimately succumbed to injury and passed away," the affidavit read. "Parnell and Willey willfully failed or omitted to provide a child with the care, supervision and services necessary to maintain the child's physical and mental health, including medicine and medical services that a prudent person would consider essential for the wellbeing of a child."
Following further investigation, Parnell and Willey were arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter and are being held at the Suwannee County Jail on no bond. Additional charges are pending following the conclusion of an autopsy and further forensic examination.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact Inv. Bradley Griffin at (386) 362-2222.