A Dexter father has pleaded not guilty to felony child abuse after his four-month-old son was airlifted to a St. Louis children’s hospital with serious head and limb injuries that doctors said did not look accidental. The father, 32-year-old Nathaniel C. Thurston, is being held on a no-bond warrant at the Stoddard County Jail.
Thurston entered his not-guilty plea on June 25 and is currently set to return to Stoddard County court on Friday, July 2, according to the Dexter Statesman. The Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed felony charges on June 2, including abuse or neglect of a child resulting in serious physical or emotional injury and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child involving drugs, as reported by KBSI.
Hotline Tip And Hospital Flight
Dexter detectives say the case started in March with a call to the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline. Officers responding to a local hospital found injuries they believed were consistent with abuse. Because of how badly the infant was hurt, authorities placed the baby in protective custody and had him airlifted to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis for specialized treatment, according to KFVS.
Doctors’ Findings And Witness Claims
Medical examinations uncovered a new skull fracture and intracranial bleeding, along with healing fractures in the child’s left leg and right forearm and bruising in various stages of healing, the Dexter Statesman reports. St. Louis medical staff told investigators that bruising around a baby’s ear is “very concerning” for an inflicted injury rather than an accident. Witnesses also reported that Thurston had allegedly yanked the child while at a restaurant, according to the paper.
What The Charges Could Mean
The charges against Thurston are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. Under Missouri law, a Class B felony carries a prison term of no fewer than five years and up to 15 years, while a Class D felony carries a maximum sentence of seven years, according to the Missouri Revised Statutes.
How To Report Concerns
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Dexter Police Department at (573) 624-5512, according to the city’s police page. Statewide, the Missouri Children’s Division operates a 24/7 Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-3738, where callers can report suspected abuse and be connected with local investigators.
The investigation remains active, and the infant is currently in state custody while prosecutors prepare the case, KBSI reports. Thurston remains in the Stoddard County Jail on a no-bond hold and is due back in court on July 2, according to the Dexter Statesman.
