Texas Moms Charged After Infant Severely Injured While Parents Partied

SMITH COUNTY, TX — Two mothers were arrested after their 2-month-old infant was tossed around and stomped on the head by other children, causing seizures and a brain bleed, while the women were out drinking alcohol and using drugs at a local hotel, authorities said.

Sidney Whitt, 21, and Jacqulin Morales, 29, allegedly left their three children — ages 6, 4 and 2 months — locked in a bedroom at their Smith County home in the care of Morales’ 18-year-old sister, Shelby Munoz, before leaving to party with a man, according to local ABC affiliate KLTV and CBS affiliate KYTX, citing a police press release. 

The 6- and 4-year-old children allegedly tossed the infant and stomped on the baby’s head until the child began having seizures and suffered a brain bleed. Doctors also reported extensive facial bruising after the infant was taken to a local hospital. The child was placed in a medically induced coma. 

Munoz allegedly told detectives she did not intervene because the children “were not hers” and she did not believe their safety was her responsibility. 

Whitt and Morales returned home the next day, found the infant severely injured and did not seek medical help until the following day, police said. 

Child Protective Services and hospital staff notified police on June 18. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation. 

When investigators searched the home, they found it lacked air conditioning, was infested with flies and the floor was heavily littered with rat feces, diapers and clothing, according to the police press release. 

Munoz and Morales were arrested last Tuesday. Whitt was arrested Thursday. All three were charged with child endangerment and injury to a child and are being held on $250,000 bond each. 

The infant remained on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma as of Friday, KLTV reported.