Authorities say what started as a welfare check at a Thompsonville home ended with deputies combing the woods and uncovering a horrific scene: a 5-year-old girl badly injured and hiding under a blanket behind her house.
The child’s mother, 40-year-old Christina Kay Crow, was arrested on Monday and now faces charges that include assault with intent to murder and first-degree child abuse.
Deputies were first called to the Lincoln Avenue home on Monday for a welfare check, according to the Benzie County Record Patriot. After arriving, investigators spent roughly an hour and a half searching the property before they finally located the 5-year-old in a wooded area behind the residence.
Child Found With Severe Injuries And Suffering From Hypothermia
When deputies reached the girl, she was reportedly huddled under a blanket with serious lacerations to her neck and face. Emergency crews said she was hypothermic when they first evaluated her and rushed her to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. She was later transferred to Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids for more specialized treatment, 9&10 News reported.
Authorities have not released an updated condition for the child.
Bond Set At $1 Million As Case Moves Through Court
Crow was arrested at the scene and taken to the Benzie County Jail. She appeared in Michigan’s 85th District Court for arraignment on Wednesday, where a judge set her bond at $1,000,000, according to Us Weekly.
Court records show she is scheduled to return for a probable-cause hearing on May 7, followed by a preliminary exam on May 14.
Investigators Tight-Lipped As Child Abuse Probe Continues
Authorities have not named any additional suspects and are keeping a tight lid on further details while the investigation continues, Law&Crime reports. Benzie County officials say they are restricting public comment both because the victim is a young child and because the case is still very much active.
More information is expected to come out at upcoming court hearings, where prosecutors are likely to lay out a fuller picture of what they believe happened in the woods behind that Thompsonville home.
If you are concerned about a child’s safety, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) and online at Childhelp. The case remains under investigation.
