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Anything Social., Longview, TX (2026)

10/15/2026

🚨 OCTOBER 12 POLICE ANNOUNCEMENT: 2-month-old Malik Woodard died from head trauma, severe dehydration and malnutrition. His great-grandmother told investigators she warned his mother, Taylor Williams, that he was struggling to breathe, and Williams told her to leave the room. Williams, 20, now faces 1st-degree child abuse resulting in death.

According to The Banner’s reporting on court records, Malik’s great-grandmother checked on him around 7 AM on August 31, 2025, in Baltimore after hearing abnormal crying. That was when she noticed his breathing trouble and alerted Williams. Williams later told detectives she fed Malik around 7 AM and put him to sleep.

Williams said she went to the bathroom between 10 and 11 AM and returned to find him unresponsive. She told investigators she sought help from a passing driver and performed CPR. Officers arrived shortly after 11:30 AM, and emergency crews took Malik to Johns Hopkins Pediatrics, where medical staff could not save him.

The autopsy found a head injury that caused bleeding in Malik’s brain, and the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide. WJZ reports Malik gained only 50 grams from birth to death. Public reporting does not explain how he suffered the head injury.

Police say medical examiners notified investigators of the fatal findings on June 22, 2026. Court records show an arrest warrant dated August 26, and police say they arrested Williams on October 5.

On October 8, Judge Mark F. Scurti set a $100,000 UNSECURED PERSONAL BOND and granted private home detention. The docket records her release that day and the start of home detention on October 9. An unsecured bond does not require collateral to secure release.

The court has scheduled a preliminary hearing for November 2. The case remains open, with no plea or conviction listed on the public docket as of October 15.

For parents and anyone caring for a baby: CALL 911 if the baby struggles for each breath, turns blue around the lips or face, or becomes unresponsive. Contact the pediatrician immediately about fewer wet diapers, a dry mouth or unusual sleepiness. Don’t wait for the next routine checkup when those warning signs appear.

SOURCES: Baltimore Police Department; Maryland Judiciary Case Search; The Banner; WJZ/CBS Baltimore; Law&Crime; American Academy of Pediatrics.

10/14/2026

🚨 OCTOBER 14 SENTENCING: Luciano Frattolin drowned his 9-year-old daughter Melina, concealed her body in a pond with a large rock on her chest, then claimed 2 men in a white van had kidnapped her. A New York judge sentenced him to 25 years to life for murder, plus another 1 to 3 years for hiding her body.

Frattolin, 46, had taken Melina from Montreal to the United States for a vacation. She lived with her mother, and they expected her home on July 19, 2025. Instead, her father called 911 that night and reported her missing near Lake George, triggering an Amber Alert and a search.

Forest rangers found Melina the next afternoon in shallow water in Ticonderoga, New York. A fallen tree partly covered her body, and a large rock rested on her chest. State police reported that an autopsy found she died from drowning and classified her death as a homicide.

At trial, prosecutors used cellphone records, vehicle location data and surveillance footage to reconstruct Frattolin’s movements and show that his kidnapping story was false. They argued that he killed Melina to get revenge against her mother. On August 10, 2026, a jury convicted him of 2nd-degree murder and concealment of a human co**se.

Judge Tatiana Coffinger ordered the sentences to run consecutively, meaning he must serve them 1 after the other. She also rejected a defense request to set aside the guilty verdict, and his lawyers gave notice of appeal. After sentencing, the court returned him to the Essex County sheriff’s custody pending transfer to New York state prison.

SOURCES: New York State Police, The Canadian Press, Spectrum News, WAMC and the New York Post.

10/14/2026

🚨 OCTOBER 9 ARRESTS: A child suffered BURNS TO THE FEET while attending a Mississippi daycare, and the facility says its own investigation found that the injuries were caused by INTENTIONAL ACTIONS from former staff members, NOT AN ACCIDENT. Authorities arrested 17-year-old Olivia Mosely on 3 FELONY CHILD ABUSE COUNTS and 20-year-old Rhina Delgado on a separate CHILD NEGLECT charge.

The case involves North Oxford Creative Learning Center in Oxford, Mississippi. According to the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office, deputies received a report on September 22 about a child who had suffered burns to the feet while attending a daycare in the county.

Investigators opened a child abuse investigation. On October 9, deputies obtained arrest warrants for Mosely and Delgado, both residents of Oxford, and arrested them that same day.

Mosely faces 3 COUNTS OF FELONIOUS CHILD ABUSE, while Delgado faces 1 COUNT OF MISDEMEANOR CHILD NEGLECT. Both appeared before a Lafayette County Justice Court judge, who set Mosely's bond at $25,000 and Delgado's at $2,500.

But the daycare's response included another serious detail.

North Oxford Creative Learning Center confirmed it conducted its own internal investigation and determined that the injuries involved INTENTIONAL ACTIONS BY FORMER STAFF MEMBERS. The facility said the injuries were not accidental and described the conduct it uncovered as unacceptable.

The daycare also confirmed it is cooperating with the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office and state authorities. It said the investigation is ongoing and declined to provide additional details while criminal charges are pending.

Investigators have not publicly revealed the child's age, exactly how the burns occurred, the severity of the injuries or the specific role each defendant allegedly played. The sheriff's announcement identifies a child with burned feet but does not explain the 3 separate felony counts.

Police have also not confirmed any additional victims. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The latest confirmed court information establishes that bond was set for both defendants on October 9. Their current custody status and upcoming court dates have not been independently confirmed.

Parents trust daycare workers to protect their children, not hurt them. If your child comes home with unexplained burns, bruises or other injuries, get medical attention, document what happened and report suspected abuse to the proper authorities.

SOURCES: Lafayette County Sheriff's Office, North Oxford Creative Learning Center, WTVA, WMC Action News 5, WLOX and PEOPLE

10/14/2026

🚨 BREAKING 🚨 OCTOBER 7 ARREST: Missouri mother Amy Rinker, 40, is accused of THREATENING TO KILL HER OWN DAUGHTER unless she made up child abuse allegations against her father during a custody dispute. Investigators say Rinker forced the girl to REHEARSE written statements claiming her dad hit, kicked and cursed at her, then allegedly HIT HER when she made mistakes. The girl later told investigators those accusations against her father were NOT TRUE and that her mother had made her say them.

According to a probable-cause affidavit, the alleged abuse happened between 2024 and 2026 in Aurora, Missouri. The girl told investigators she was afraid of her mother and did not feel safe staying with her because of repeated threats.

The child said Rinker kept written statements inside a folder and made her practice what she was supposed to tell people about her father. She allegedly forced her daughter to rehearse the stories late at night and on weekends, making her repeat them until she got everything right.

And if she got something wrong, the girl said her mother would hit her. She also accused Rinker of repeatedly putting her down, cursing at her and calling her stupid.

The investigation revealed that the child had been trying to tell someone what was happening for months.

On January 9, 2026, the girl reportedly told her court-appointed reunification counselor to "go find the folder." According to investigators, the counselor learned that it contained statements allegedly written by Rinker for the girl to repeat during the custody case.

The counselor described the girl as being in a TERRIBLE EMOTIONAL STATE. She reportedly kept her head down, avoided eye contact, struggled to speak and did not want anyone touching her. The counselor, who had about 30 years of professional experience, said the child's condition was among the worst she had seen.

On April 18, the Missouri Children's Division and Aurora Police responded to a child abuse hotline report. During the investigation, the girl said she felt safe living with her father because she no longer had to lie.

She participated in a forensic interview at a Children's Advocacy Center on April 21. According to the affidavit, she told investigators her mother had threatened to kill her multiple times if she refused to make up allegations against her dad.

Investigators also reviewed testimony from earlier custody proceedings involving the girl and her sister. Both children had previously claimed they prepared their written statements themselves. But court records questioned those accounts because their testimony was largely identical and appeared heavily influenced by their mother.

Rinker DENIED threatening her daughter, coaching her to make false accusations or keeping a folder of statements for her to memorize.

After months of investigation, authorities arrested Rinker on October 7. She faces 1 COUNT OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT involving allegations of nonsexual abuse.

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office lists her as being held WITHOUT BOND. Her next reported court appearance is scheduled for October 19. She has not been convicted, and the allegations remain part of a pending criminal case.

The girl's exact age has not been confirmed in the public arrest reporting reviewed, and officials have not released her name.

Children should never be threatened, hit or pressured to lie about another parent. Custody disputes belong between adults. If a child tells you someone is threatening or hurting them, listen carefully, take their concerns seriously and report suspected abuse.

SOURCES: Aurora Police Department probable-cause statement reporting, Missouri Children's Division, Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, KY3 News and Law&Crime

10/13/2026

🚨 OCTOBER 9 ARRESTS: Texas parents Matthew Allen Chambers, 39, and Meaghan Herrod, 30, are each charged with 2 COUNTS OF MURDER after their 2 young children, Mavryck Chambers, 4, and Skylar Chambers, 3, died inside a BURNING RV. The fire was so intense that the camper was starting to collapse when firefighters arrived, but they still crawled inside trying to save the children. Both were found dead. Investigators say their parents were in the area when the fire happened.

The tragedy happened around 5:25 a.m. on August 11, 2026, on a wooded property along County Road 3819 near Cleveland, Texas. Emergency callers reported an RV completely engulfed in flames, with people believed to be trapped inside.

The camper was one of several RVs and mobile homes on the property where family members and friends lived.

Cleveland Fire Chief Sean Anderson said firefighters entered the burning camper as it started collapsing. They searched for anyone trapped inside, but by the time they reached the 2 children, it was too late.

Mavryck and Skylar were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were taken to the Jefferson County Medical Examiner's Office for autopsies.

Investigators began looking into what caused the fire and where the children's parents were when it started. The fire chief confirmed Chambers and Herrod were in the area but did not explain exactly where they were or what happened before the flames broke out.

For almost 2 MONTHS, authorities continued investigating the children's deaths.

On October 9, investigators arrested BOTH PARENTS and charged each of them with 2 counts of felony murder. The Liberty County Fire Marshal's Office said evidence gathered during its investigation and interviews led to the charges. The sheriff's office and district attorney's office also assisted.

And there is another development involving the family.

On October 12, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services confirmed that BOTH Chambers and Herrod had previous involvement with CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES. The agency has not released the details of that history and says more information will become available after its child fatality investigation is complete.

ABC13 also uncovered a previous CHILD ENDANGERMENT CONVICTION involving Chambers. In 2016, he pleaded guilty after court records showed he smoked synthetic ma*****na inside a moving vehicle with a child under 15 until he lost consciousness.

That conviction was from a separate incident years before Mavryck and Skylar were born.

According to the latest reporting, Chambers and Herrod were booked into the Liberty County Jail with bond set at $500,000 FOR EACH MURDER COUNT, bringing the total to $1 MILLION PER PARENT.

Investigators have not publicly explained what caused the fire, whether anyone intentionally started it or what specific actions led to the felony murder allegations. The parents have not been convicted, and no current hearing date has been independently confirmed.

Mavryck Len Chambers was born May 18, 2022. His little sister, Skylar Jayne Chambers, was born June 1, 2023. Their family remembered them as inseparable, always together, with Skylar looking out for her big brother. Both children died on August 11, before they had the chance to grow up.

If your family lives or travels in an RV, make sure working smoke alarms are installed, everyone knows how to get outside quickly and children are never left without an appropriate adult who can respond to an emergency.

SOURCES: Liberty County Fire Marshal's Office, Liberty County Sheriff's Office, Liberty County Jail records, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, ABC13 Houston, FOX 26 Houston, KPRC 2, Bluebonnet News, Law&Crime and Neal Funeral Home

10/13/2026

🚨 OCTOBER 9 ARREST ANNOUNCEMENT: 8 ADULTS in Kentucky are facing charges including CHILD ABUSE, R**E, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SO**MY and IN**ST after investigators removed 7 CHILDREN, ages 1 to 17, from a home where F***S AND URINE were smeared across floors, stairs and other surfaces. Court documents say there were roaches, flies and other insects throughout the house, with f***s CAKED ABOUT ¼ INCH THICK on the stairs. The smell was so bad that 1 officer reportedly had trouble breathing inside.

The investigation took place at a home on Norwood Drive in Richmond, Kentucky. According to Richmond Police, the case involved multiple family members living together and allegations of abuse investigated with help from Child Protective Services and the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services.

On October 8, officers searched the house and found what they described as filthy and deplorable living conditions. Investigators reported f***s and urine throughout the residence, insects inside and 10 DOGS AND 1 CAT living there alongside the adults and children.

Authorities removed all 7 children from the home and placed them with social services. Police have not released their identities, individual medical conditions or details about how long they were living in those conditions.

The investigation also led to serious sexual offense charges.

Richard Carter, 45, faces 1ST-DEGREE R**E, HUMAN TRAFFICKING and 2 first-degree criminal abuse and neglect offenses involving children.

Green Schindler, 63, faces 1ST-DEGREE R**E, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, 1ST-DEGREE SO**MY, IN**ST and 2 first-degree criminal abuse and neglect offenses.

Sarah Carter, 28, faces first-degree criminal abuse and neglect charges, distribution of obscene matter and in**st. Mark Brumbaugh, 30, faces first-degree criminal abuse and neglect charges, in**st and third-degree sexual abuse.

Christine Carter, 41, and Johnna Carter, 21, each face 2 first-degree criminal abuse and neglect charges. Matthew Brumbaugh, 30, faces an in**st charge, while Ishmeal Thornsberry, 21, faces first-degree criminal abuse.

All 8 adults were arrested in connection with the investigation. Police announced the arrests on October 9 and said additional charges could follow as detectives continue gathering evidence.

Authorities have NOT publicly explained the specific allegations behind the r**e and human trafficking charges or identified who the alleged victims of those offenses are. They have also not disclosed the exact family relationships between the defendants and the children.

The latest confirmed reporting placed all 8 defendants at the Madison County Detention Center. Their arraignments were scheduled for October 12, but I could not independently confirm the hearing results or any subsequent bond decisions.

All charges remain pending, and none of the defendants has been convicted in this case.

Richmond Police are asking anyone with additional information to contact investigators as the case continues.

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected in Kentucky, call the state's 24-hour child protection hotline at 1-877-597-2331. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

SOURCES: Richmond Police Department, Madison District Court citations as reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader and FOX 56, LEX 18, WKYT, WBONTV and Law&Crime

10/13/2026

🚨 OCTOBER 8 MURDER ARREST: North Carolina great-aunt Stephanie Kay Johnson, 37, is accused of killing her 21-MONTH-OLD great-niece, Arabella Johnson, while she was supposed to be CARING FOR HER. The little girl was rushed to a hospital after a medical emergency, where investigators discovered evidence of earlier NON-ACCIDENTAL TRAUMA. Arabella died the following day, and the medical examiner later ruled her death a HOMICIDE caused by BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA.

The investigation began on April 30, 2026, when deputies and emergency responders rushed to a home on Bob's Lake Road in Hamptonville, North Carolina, for a medical emergency involving the toddler. First responders performed CPR before she was taken to a hospital for treatment.

While Arabella was receiving medical care, detectives discovered signs that she had suffered previous injuries that were not accidental. The 21-month-old died on May 1 at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

The Yadkin County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation with help from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The Yadkin County Department of Social Services also opened an investigation into what happened to the child.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined that Arabella died from BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA and officially classified her death as a homicide. Authorities had already publicly announced the homicide investigation in May, but no arrest was announced until October.

On October 8, investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Stephanie Kay Johnson, Arabella's GREAT-AUNT. According to court documents, Johnson was responsible for caring for Arabella when she allegedly inflicted the injuries that caused her death.

The warrant accuses Johnson of killing Arabella with malice and intentionally causing serious bodily injury that resulted in the child's death. She now faces 1 COUNT OF MURDER and 1 COUNT OF INTENTIONALLY INFLICTING CHILD ABUSE RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY.

Deputies arrested Johnson without incident on October 8, more than 5 MONTHS after Arabella's death. She was reported held in the Yadkin County Jail WITHOUT BOND. Her first court appearance was scheduled for October 9, but I could not independently confirm the outcome or any newer court ruling.

Investigators have not publicly explained exactly how Johnson allegedly caused Arabella's injuries, whether an object was involved or what led to the fatal incident. She has not been convicted, and the charges remain allegations.

Arabella River Elisabeth Johnson was born July 28, 2024. Her family described her as a quiet, happy little girl with a smile that could light up a room. She died on May 1, 2026, before reaching her 2nd birthday.

When a child suffers unexplained injuries, especially while under someone else's care, those concerns need to be taken seriously. Seek medical help and report suspected abuse. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

SOURCES: Yadkin County Sheriff's Office, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, WXII 12 News, FOX 8, Yadkin Ripple, Law&Crime and Elkin Funeral Service

10/13/2026

🚨 OCTOBER 8 APPEAL DECISION: Bionca Ellis, 34, who STABBED 3-YEAR-OLD Julian Wood TO DEATH while he sat in a SHOPPING CART outside an Ohio grocery store, has LOST HER APPEAL. Ellis followed Julian and his mother to their car, repeatedly stabbed the little boy and then stabbed his mother when she tried to pull him away. An Ohio appeals court has now upheld her murder convictions, leaving her sentence of LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE in place.

The murder happened on June 3, 2024, outside a Giant Eagle grocery store in North Olmsted, Ohio. Julian was shopping with his mother, Margot Wood, when Ellis spotted them inside the store. Authorities found no evidence that Ellis knew the family before the attack.

Earlier that day, Ellis had gone to the North Olmsted Police Department asking about money she believed was missing after a previous shoplifting arrest. She told an officer she had nowhere to stay. After leaving the police station, Ellis went to a nearby Volunteers of America thrift store and STOLE 2 KNIVES.

According to court records, Ellis dropped 1 knife while walking to Giant Eagle but carried the other into the grocery store. Surveillance footage showed her entering with the weapon, spotting Julian and his mother, and following them as they finished shopping.

Margot had just reached her vehicle and opened the back hatch when Ellis approached with the knife. Julian was still sitting in the child seat of the shopping cart when Ellis suddenly began STABBING HIM.

His mother immediately tried to pull him out of the cart to protect him, but Ellis stabbed her too. A witness saw the shopping cart fall and Margot cradle her injured little boy in her arms. Ellis then walked away, leaving both of them bleeding in the parking lot.

Police found Ellis nearby still carrying the knife. She dropped it when an officer confronted her and was arrested at the scene.

Paramedics rushed Julian and his mother to a hospital. Margot survived her injuries, but Julian died that day from his stab wounds. He was only 3 YEARS OLD.

During Ellis' sentencing hearing, Margot described holding her dying son in her arms. She told the court that the last sounds she would ever hear from Julian were his screams and that she could still see the fear in his eyes.

Julian's father, Jared Wood, remembered him as a funny, loving little boy who loved dinosaurs and French fries. He also spoke about how Julian helped his older brother, who has autism and is nonverbal, become more comfortable communicating.

The case went to trial in October 2025. Ellis had previously been found incompetent to stand trial and received treatment before doctors determined she was competent to face the charges.

Ellis pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Medical experts agreed she had schizophrenia but disagreed about whether her illness prevented her from understanding that her actions were wrong at the time of the attack.

On October 15, 2025, a jury found Ellis GUILTY of 9 offenses, including aggravated murder, 2 counts of murder, 2 counts of attempted murder, 2 counts of felonious assault, child endangering and misdemeanor theft.

On October 27, Judge John Russo sentenced Ellis to LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. Ellis apologized during the hearing, while Julian's family described the loss they would carry for the rest of their lives.

But Ellis appealed her convictions.

Her attorneys argued that the jury had been given an incorrect explanation of Ohio's insanity defense, that prosecutors made improper statements during closing arguments, and that her trial attorneys had not adequately represented her.

On October 8, 2026, the Eighth District Court of Appeals REJECTED ALL 3 ARGUMENTS and upheld her convictions. The court found no reversible error in the handling of the insanity defense, the prosecutor's remarks or her legal representation.

Ellis remains sentenced to LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. The ruling does not prevent her attorneys from seeking further review, but her sentence has not changed.

Julian was just 3 years old. His mother was getting groceries and putting them into her car when a stranger attacked them. She survived, but the little boy she tried to save never came home.

SOURCES: Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals, State v. Ellis (2026-Ohio-3958), Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, Court TV, Cleveland 19 News, FOX 8 Cleveland, WKYC and Law&Crime

10/12/2026

🚨 OCTOBER 6 CHILD NEGLECT CHARGES: Florida mother Heather Marie Wizbicki, 35, is accused of leaving her 3 children, ages 9, 13 and 14, ALONE FOR DAYS without running water, electricity or enough food. Investigators say she returned to the filthy apartment 3 DAYS LATER, but only to collect clothes for herself, leaving her 3 hungry children just $3 to buy food. The children had no phone to call relatives or anyone else for help.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Wizbicki left the children at their apartment on September 21, 2026, around 4 p.m. The electricity had already been disconnected since September 17, and investigators say she left without providing food, water or money. The children were also without adequate hygiene supplies or clean clothes.

On September 24, Wizbicki allegedly returned to the apartment to get her own clothes. Instead of staying to care for her children, she left them $3 for food and went away again. Deputies said the children spent multiple days hungry.

The children remained without an adult until September 28, when a neighbor discovered what was happening and contacted authorities. By then, they had allegedly been left to fend for themselves for about a WEEK.

When deputies entered the apartment, they found F***S ON THE FLOOR, bags of ROTTING FOOD, trash scattered throughout the rooms and NO RUNNING WATER. Investigators described the home as unlivable. The smell was so bad that the children had trouble breathing even with the windows open, and deputies could smell it through the closed front door.

Investigators also found that a cat had been left inside the apartment without enough food or water.

By the time authorities discovered the children, Wizbicki was already in jail, but not for child neglect.

On September 24, police had stopped her vehicle in Zephyrhills over illegally tinted windows. According to the reporting, a police dog alerted officers to drugs, and officers recovered fentanyl from the vehicle. Wizbicki was arrested on drug-related charges and booked into the Pasco County Jail.

After investigators discovered the children's living conditions, Wizbicki faced 3 COUNTS OF CHILD NEGLECT, 1 involving each child, along with an additional charge of confining an animal without sufficient food or water.

The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified and began its own investigation. Authorities have not publicly confirmed where the children were placed afterward or provided details about their health.

As of October 9 reporting, Wizbicki remained in the Pasco County Jail WITHOUT BOND. Court conditions prohibited her from contacting the children. Her next hearing date and any newer custody changes have not been independently confirmed.

The charges remain pending, and Wizbicki has not been convicted in this case.

A neighbor's call brought these children's situation to the attention of authorities. If you know children who appear to be living alone, repeatedly going hungry or staying in unsafe conditions, report your concerns to child protective services. You do not need to investigate the situation yourself before asking authorities to check on their safety.

SOURCES: Pasco County Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit, WFLA News Channel 8, Law&Crime, Pasco County Jail reporting and Florida Department of Children and Families

10/12/2026

🚨 OCTOBER 5 ARREST: Florida mother Juanisha Joy Johnson, 24, is accused of ignoring warnings that her 2-MONTH-OLD SON was bleeding heavily from his mouth, had swollen eyes and was refusing to eat, then waiting HOURS to get him medical help. As his condition worsened, she allegedly texted a friend, "He having seizures" and "And not waking up bruh." Doctors later found a TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, BLEEDING IN HIS BRAIN and BROKEN RIBS that had already started healing. Her 2-year-old daughter also had injuries to her head.

The children had been staying with Johnson at a longtime friend's home in Gainesville, Florida, for about 2 weeks. On the night of October 3, Johnson went out and left both children in her friend's care.

The friend told police she noticed the baby's eyes were swollen, blood was coming from his mouth and he was crying, struggling to sleep and refusing to eat. Around midnight, she contacted Johnson on FaceTime and warned her about the baby's condition.

According to the arrest report, Johnson did not appear concerned and reportedly said she didn't want police or the Department of Children and Families involved. The friend later called law enforcement because she believed the children were being abused.

Johnson returned around 7 a.m. on October 4 and saw the baby's condition herself. Investigators say she admitted that the bleeding was excessive, enough to drip onto his shirt, but claimed he had scratched his own mouth. Police said that explanation did not match the amount of blood described.

Johnson also acknowledged that her son was making unusual squeaking noises, wasn't eating and had severe swelling around his eyes. She allegedly told investigators, "I knew something was wrong."

But instead of taking the baby straight to a hospital, Johnson left with both children, drove around Gainesville and stopped at her grandfather's home. Around 11 a.m., she checked into a hotel.

By then, the baby's condition was getting worse. Johnson reportedly noticed him twitching and his eyes moving back and forth. She also stopped at CVS to pick up her own medication while her 2-year-old daughter repeatedly complained, "Ow!"

Investigators found messages Johnson allegedly sent to her friend saying the baby was having seizures and wasn't waking up. Johnson said she also called a pediatrician, who told her to take him to the hospital.

Hospital staff reported that Johnson finally arrived at UF Health Shands around 1 p.m., roughly 6 HOURS after she returned and saw her son's injuries.

Doctors immediately placed the baby in intensive care and put him on a breathing tube. They discovered a traumatic brain injury, a brain bleed and several broken ribs that appeared to be older injuries already starting to heal. Investigators said his injuries were consistent with significant trauma or force, not an ordinary accidental injury.

The 2-year-old girl also had a hematoma on her forehead, a large partially healed abrasion and another injury near her left temple. Johnson claimed the girl's injuries came from a plastic toy thrown by her friend's young son, but investigators said the injuries did not match that explanation.

Police have not established who caused either child's injuries. The current charges against Johnson focus on alleged neglect, delayed medical care and her conduct during the investigation.

After questioning Johnson, police took her cellphone as evidence. When she later asked to retrieve phone numbers, investigators say she grabbed the phone and resisted an officer's attempt to take it back.

Johnson was arrested and booked into the Alachua County Jail on October 5. She faces CHILD NEGLECT WITH GREAT BODILY HARM, child neglect without great bodily harm, attempting to tamper with evidence and resisting an officer without violence.

The Alachua Chronicle also reported that Johnson had faced a separate child neglect charge in 2021 after allegedly filming another child holding a 1-year-old by the neck rather than intervening. That earlier case was eventually dropped after she completed a pretrial intervention program. It was not a conviction.

Judge Joy Danne set Johnson's bond at $145,000. I could not verify whether she has since posted bond or whether the charges have changed.

As of October 6, the baby was reported to be STABLE BUT IN CRITICAL CONDITION at UF Health Shands Children's Hospital. There has been no verified public update confirming his current condition. Johnson's 2-year-old daughter was also evaluated for her injuries.

Excessive bleeding, seizures, difficulty waking up and refusing to feed are emergency warning signs in an infant. Call 911 immediately if a baby is unresponsive or having a seizure, or if you suspect a serious head injury. Waiting for symptoms to get worse can put a child's life in danger.

SOURCES: Gainesville Police Department arrest report, Alachua Chronicle, WCJB TV20, Alachua County Sheriff's Office booking records and Law&Crime

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