A St. Lucie County father is behind bars after his infant child was found with severe injuries. James Longendyck, 33, faces charges of aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm as announced by the sheriff's office. The 3-month-old child's horrific condition was identified by medical personnel at HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital and later confirmed by St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, as reported by WPBF.
Details provided by the authorities reveal the investigation began on March 29 with hospital staff noticing "injuries consistent with both recent and past trauma," according to an official Facebook post from the sheriff's office cited by WFLX. Longendyck's child had sustained broken and healing rib fractures, a healing fracture of a left tibia, and a fracture of a right humerus. His bond was set at $50,000.
Detective Jennifer Diaz expanded on the nature of the injuries, stating, "Their bones are very spongy, they're very hard to break, in order to receive these types of injuries there had to be an extreme amount of force," a sentiment echoed in WFLX's coverage. The child was transferred for more comprehensive care and evaluation amidst a detailed, nearly four-month-long investigation that consisted of medical evaluations, witness interviews, forensic analysis, and collaboration with child welfare specialists.
Lt. Andrew Bolonka described the emotional weight of the case, saying, "You’ve got a 3-month-old child. They are helpless and they rely on us, and it's heartbreaking and it's heart-wrenching when you have to investigate a case like this," in a statement obtained by WFLX. Meanwhile, HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital staff's vigilance was praised by law enforcement for their pivotal role in bringing the case to attention. The infant is currently being cared for by family members, and the sheriff's office has emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing.
Expressing zero tolerance for such acts, Sheriff Richard Del Toro declared, "Harming a defenseless child is inexcusable. If you harm a child or prey on the most vulnerable in St. Lucie County, you will be held accountable. Our deputies will find you; they will arrest you, and you will face the full force of the law," a direct quote from the sheriff's statement highlighted by WFLX.
