Texas mothers have been charged with felony offenses for leaving three toddlers in a locked bedroom while going out to party. This has led to a baby of 2 months being brutally abused and put into an induced coma.

Texas law enforcement officials arrested Jacqulun Morales, 29, and Shelby Munoz, 18, on Tuesday, June 23, followed by the arrest of 21-year-old Sidney Whitt on Thursday, June 25. Authorities charged each woman with child endangerment and injury to a child, setting bond at $250,000 for each count. 

The incident unfolded when Whitt and Morales allegedly left a 6-year-old, a 4-year-old, and the infant in the care of Munoz, who is Morales’ sister. According to a Smith County Sheriff’s Office press release, the two mothers left the home to consume alcohol and dr*gs with a man at a local hotel.

While the mothers were away, the older children were left inside a locked room with the baby. Left completely unmonitored, the older children began tossing the infant and stomping on the victim’s head, officials said. 

“During the night, two children, ages four and six, got into the locked bedroom and began tossing the infant, and stomped on the child’s head.”

— Smith County Sheriff’s Office (press release), Kltv

A highly specialized medical team at the Dallas hospital had put the infant in a medically induced coma in an attempt to treat the brain bleed, along with severe bruises that were present on the face. The medical staff at the hospital, along with CPS, had first reported the case of abuse to the sheriff’s office on Thursday, June 18. It was only after coming back from their stay at the hotel that they found out about the seizures in the infant.

 

During police interviews, Munoz allegedly admitted to detectives that she knew what was happening to the infant but chose not to intervene. Investigators noted that Munoz stated she did not step in because the children were “not hers,” and she did not believe she was responsible for their well-being. 

“Munoz did not intervene, the release states, later saying that the children were not hers and she did not believe their care was her responsibility.”

— Smith County Sheriff’s Office (press release), Kltv

Sheriff’s deputies who searched the residence described the living environment as hazardous and unlivable. The police press release documented that the home “lacked air conditioning and was infested with flies,” with floors heavily littered with diapers, clothing, and rat feces. 

The Texas infant remains under critical care in a Dallas facility as medical experts monitor the long-term neurological fallout of the assault. The Smith County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the investigative filings to determine if additional grand jury indictments are warranted as the medical prognosis develops. 

Disclaimer: The Inquisitr individually could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the official law enforcement information available within the published record.