A North Carolina grandmother has been arrested and charged after her two-year-old granddaughter died from “non-accidental trauma,” according to police, and warrants reveal more details about the arrest.
According to police, they responded to Oferrell Street on a medical call. When they got to the scene, they found a two-year-old girl suffering from apparent cardiac arrest.
The child was declared dead on arrival at an area hospital and medical staff and detectives saw what they believed were signs of child abuse.
The family victims unit began investigating, and a press release from Greensboro Police Department says they believed that the little girl suffered “non-accidental” trauma in the care of her grandmother, Rubie Thomas, on April 1.
An arrest warrant issued April 18 for Thomas identifies the child as Shade Wilhite and details her extensive injuries.
The documents allege that Thomas committed “an assault that resulted in serious bodily injury” to the little girl, including “rib fractures, over 50 contusions, abrasion on back of left leg, injuries to face, lacerations in mouth, multiple hemorrhaging to scalp, hemorrhaging to top of head, hemorrhaging to skull, bleeding on the brain, bleeding on brain covering, bleeding on brain surface, bleeding around spinal cord, bleeding on the inside of the eyes, hemorrhaging around ribs, bruised intestines, bruising on top of chest, small hemorrhaging in the back.”
“At the time the defendant inflicted the injury the defendant was providing care for the child as Grandmother,” the warrants state.
A GoFundMe account has been setup to assist with funeral and burial arrangements. You can donate here.
On April 26, police arrested Thomas and charged her with first-degree murder and felony child abuse.
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