Two individuals in Cleveland are facing charges for what authorities have determined was a fabricated tale of the abandonment of an infant. According to the Cleveland19 News, the baby was supposedly found outside a home on Wayside Avenue in July, but authorities have since unraveled this narrative as false.
The narrative began unraveling after a 10-week investigation by the Cleveland Division of Police that included studying surveillance footage and carrying out multiple interviews. A false report was initially filed claiming that a three-month-old infant was discovered abandoned—a claim that has led to criminal charges against two people, as stated by WKYC. Tierra Shelton, 43, and Jasmine Shelton, 22, are each charged with tampering with evidence and making or causing false reports of child endangerment or neglect.
The infant in question was brought to the Cleveland Division of Police Fifth District station in the early hours and was then given a clean bill of health by medical personnel, showing no signs of injury or abuse, as reported by Cleveland19 News. The baby was under the temporary custody of the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services during the investigation.
Now, with the investigation concluded, it was found that the child was, in fact, not abandoned. The baby has reportedly been released to the family, according to a ridge from FOX8. As for the accused, Tierra and Jasmine Shelton are expected to face their charges in court soon.
Details about the relationship between the two charged individuals, Tierra and Jasmine Shelton, were not immediately available, but 19 News has reached out to the police for more information. Meanwhile, the police have reiterated that the infant at the center of this ordeal remains in good health.
