Child Abuse Case 'Horrendous,' Police Chief Says

ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. — The parents of a 4-month-old baby girl have been charged with felony child abuse after, Roanoake Rapids police say, as many as 40 bones in the child's body were broken.

Jasmine Broady, 19, and Terry Jay Lee, 24, were arrested Friday following a nearly two-month investigation into the case.

At the time, 2-month-old Shaniyah Lee had fractures to her skull, her ribs and her arms, Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Jeff Hinton said.

Police received an initial report of abuse from the Department of Social Services in late February. The child was removed from her parents' custody while the child was tested to see if the broken bones were the result of a genetic disorder or a severe fall.

"These injuries are not consistent with falling on a playground or any normal childhood injuries," Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Jeff Hinton said.

Hinton would not say exactly how the child was injured but said the alleged abuse was "just really horrendous."

"This is the worst case of abuse that I have seen," he said. Authorities say the child is expected to recover.

Friends of Lee said Monday he had nothing to do with the alleged abuse and was at work.

"He had nothing to do with it, and he is in jail now for something he didn't know what happened," Alan Robinson Jr. said.

Police said there was enough evidence to charge both parents with the crime.