A Garner father is behind bars after his 2-year-old child was rushed to the hospital with what doctors described as severe, life-threatening injuries, including major head trauma and spinal damage. The child underwent emergency procedures, and Garner detectives are now working the case alongside Wake County prosecutors.
According to CBS17, 44-year-old Kiran Netha Pasunuri was arrested Thursday, June 25, and is facing multiple felony child abuse charges that allegedly involve inflicting serious bodily injury. Court documents reviewed by the outlet say the 2-year-old suffered a brain bleed, injuries to the head and back, a hemorrhage in one eye, and compression fractures along the spine. Pasunuri was booked into the Wake County Detention Center on a $200,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court Monday, June 29.
WRAL reports that emergency medical teams performed life-saving measures after the child arrived at the hospital, including removing a portion of the skull to relieve pressure. The outlet also notes that this arrest comes on the heels of other recent Garner investigations into alleged neglect and abuse, a reminder that local law enforcement treats any serious injury to a young child as a top-priority case.
What investigators say
Garner officers are working closely with medical professionals and the Wake County District Attorney's Office to reconstruct the timeline that led up to the child’s injuries, according to court filings and police statements reviewed by CBS17. Investigators allege the father delayed seeking medical care, and detectives are continuing to interview witnesses and obtain medical records as they try to nail down exactly what happened and when.
Charges and next steps
Per WRAL, Pasunuri faces two counts of felony intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury and two counts of felony negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury. He remains held on a $200,000 secured bond while prosecutors review the evidence, and his initial court appearance is set for Monday afternoon.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and that more information will be released as additional court filings and official statements become available. This story will be updated when the Wake County District Attorney's Office or Garner Police Department provides new details.
