Suspects arrested for injury to child

Smith County – Investigators were notified by Child Protective Services and hospital staff regarding a two-month-old baby brought to Mother Frances Hospital with head trauma consistent with child abuse, according to a news release. Medical personnel reported the infant was suffering from brain bleeding, seizures, and facial bruising. The baby was later airlifted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas for specialized treatment.

Investigators conducted interviews with the baby’s mother, other adults, and the children residing in the home, and discovered the home lacked air conditioning and was infested with flies. The floor was heavily littered with rat feces, diapers, and clothing.

The investigation also revealed that several of the children were routinely locked in a room when the mother left the residence, leaving another adult in charge. Investigators learned on the night of June 16, the two mothers of the children, identified as Sidney Whitt, 21, and Jacqulun Morales, 29, left the residence and placed Ms. Morales’s sister, Shelby Munoz, 18, in charge of the children. Prior to leaving, they locked the baby and two other children in a bedroom.

Ms. Morales and Ms. Whitt traveled to a local hotel to meet a boyfriend and consumed alcohol and narcotics while there. During the night, two children, ages four and six, went into the locked bedroom, began tossing the infant, and ultimately stomped on the baby’s head.
Ms. Munoz did not intervene, later saying the children were not hers and she did not believe their care was her responsibility.

The next day, after observing the baby’s injuries, Ms. Whitt and Ms. Morales failed to seek medical assistance. The infant did not receive any medical attention until eight days later.

All three suspects, Sidney Whitt, Jacqulun Morales, and Shelby Munoz were arrested on the charges and taken to jail. Bond is set at $250,000 on each charge. The baby is currently on a ventilator in a medically induced coma.