Joliet Couple Arrested For Severely Beating 3-Year-Old Boy
JOLIET, Ill. (STMW) -- Police say a woman waited three days to bring her 3-year-old son to the hospital after she and her boyfriend gave him a severe beating in southwest suburban Joliet.
Cmdr. Brian Benton said it was Monday night when the child was hurt at 217 Lincoln St.
"His mother, Terran T. Smith, 21, and her boyfriend, Jamar L. Caesar, 22, have an 8-month-old child together," Benton said. "And the mother became angry when the 3-year-old struck the 8-month-old."
Smith allegedly told investigators she started to spank the boy before telling Caesar to administer the punishment, but a witness in the house reportedly told police both Smith and Caesar each spent two minutes whipping the boy with a belt.
On Friday, Smith reportedly brought her son to Silver Cross Hospital because he was vomiting and had not eaten for three days.
"An examination found the boy had a broken wrist, extensive body bruising, a bruised kidney, a lacerated or bruised liver and laceration to his face," Benton said. "(During questioning) Smith said she didn't want to bring him to the hospital because she worried the Department of Children and Family Services would take her children away."
According to reports, that is exactly what happened. DCFS is supervising the 3-year-old, who remains at the hospital, while the 8-month-old has been taken into protective custody.
Smith reportedly told detectives Caesar was responsible for the boy's injuries. He was jailed Friday night on a charge of aggravated battery to a child. Benton said Ceasar confessed to beating the boy but also implicated Smith. Smith was arrested Saturday morning and booked into the county jail on charges of aggravated battery to a child and endangering the life or health of a child.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
