ALABAMA — A woman has been arrested and charged following an investigation into severe injuries suffered by a young child in Coffee County.
According to the Coffee County District Attorney’s Office, a young boy suffered multiple serious injuries, including at least one internal injury, after being left alone for several days with his father’s girlfriend. Authorities said Emily Stroud was arrested last week by the Elba Police Department and charged with one count of aggravated child abuse.
Coffee County District Attorney James Tarbox said Stroud had been dating the child’s father and was asked to care for the nearly 2-year-old boy while the father was at work.
In a release, Tarbox said the child suffered a lacerated liver, a broken arm, black eyes, and bruises, cuts, and sores across much of his body. Authorities said the injuries occurred over multiple days.
“The evidence in this case is emotionally hard to look at seeing someone wholly dependent on adults being hurt this way. As a father it is hard to imagine someone acting this way towards any child,” Tarbox said.
Stroud appeared in court for an Aniah’s Law hearing on Monday, Jan. 26, to determine whether she should be granted bond while awaiting a possible grand jury indictment and trial. During the hearing, Tarbox requested that Stroud be held without bond. A judge is expected to rule on the bond decision by Wednesday.
The district attorney also said he appreciates the work of investigators involved in the case.
