Indiana couple arrested after toddler found with multipal injuries including a split tongue.

5years ago

TERRE HAUTE news, Indiana news.

A Terre Haute woman and her boyfriend were arrested after a 14-month-old child was hospitalized last week after suffering multiple injuries and a split tongue which was possibly cut down the middle with scissors.

Scott A. Edwards, 33, and Holly Cota, 28, were criminally charged after the toddler was hospitalized last Wednesday with a split tongue, multiple bruises, and a swollen scrotum. Doctors reportedly determined that his injuries weren’t accidental and contacted police.

When the officers asked the child’s mother, Holly Cota, about her son’s injuries, the affidavit says she claimed the boy had fallen out of his crib multiple times and she believed he bit his tongue, which caused it to split. She said her son “must have straddled the toy box when he fell, causing damage to his scrotum,” the affidavit says.

Cota later told police her boyfriend was with the child while she was at work, and that's when the injuries occurred. Cota said she was initially afraid to take the child for medical treatment because of his condition.

investigators were told it was unlikely that damage to the child’s tongue was caused by his teeth. “[The doctor] said that the cut appeared clean and was not torn which indicated that some type of tool, possibly scissors, were used,” the arrest affidavit stated. “[The doctor] also said that a piece at the tip of the tongue was missing.”

Medical officials noted that teeth marks did not align with the nature of the injury, local media reported. They said the injuries were more akin to “inflicted trauma.”

Edwards remains in pre-trial custody on $75,000 bond while Cota has been released, with her next hearing taking place on Friday.