Two Ohio natives have been charged with endangering children after a baby died from traumatic injuries.
Daisha Somers, 24, brought her 10-month-old child to the Hocking Valley Community Hospital Emergency Room on Nov. 20., according to the Hocking County Sheriff's Office. The baby had extreme trauma and injuries.
When deputies and detectives arrived at the hospital, Somers was with her boyfriend, Jerry Johnson IV, 33. Medics were also present, providing treatment to the baby.
The sheriff's office said the child had extensive bruising to the face and head. It was also believed that the child’s skull was fractured, and she was not breathing on her own. She was put on life support.
The child was flown to Nationwide Children's Hospital Trauma Center.
During the initial interview, Somers and Johnson said they heard a "loud" thud that morning. They said when they went to find out what the noise was, they allegedly found the child had fallen out of her toddler bed and struck her head, the sheriff's office said. None of them called 911 or requested an emergency squad. The child was taken to the hospital in their personal vehicle several hours later.
Johnson said in another interview that he found the child unresponsive and not breathing while Somers was doing laundry at another location.
Officials said Somers admitted to smoking methamphetamine and Johnson admitted to smoking marijuana and was intoxicated.
Detectives were able to determine that falling out of the toddler bed was inconsistent with the trauma the child had suffered.
According to the sheriff's office, the child suffered seven skull fractures, bleeding of the stomach, blood in the urine, retinal hemorrhages, multiple strokes, and prolonged cardiac arrest.
After being on life support for a couple of days, the child was pronounced dead on Nov. 23.
Somers and Johnson were charged with endangering children. They are currently in jail being held on a $500,000 cash bond.
In 2020, Somers was charged after her 11-month-old suffered a broken arm and brain injury.