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Couple Found Guilty In Child Abuse Case Arrested In Franklin Co.
By: Susan Tebben
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A couple that disappeared during a trial in which they were found guilty of seriously harming an infant have been found and arrested, according to authorities.
Photo courtesy of the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office
Samuel A. Thompson, 31, and Kayla A. Fannon, 26, were wanted on nationwide warrants after they didn’t show up for the second week of a trial in which they were both charged with two counts each of endangering children and one count each of permitting child abuse, according to previous WOUB reporting.
Thompson and Fannon were arrested Monday at a Budget Inn Motel in Lockbourne, according to a Facebook post by Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn. They were found in the Franklin County area after a tip was provided to the prosecutor’s office.
The case, which was investigated by the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, began after Fannon took her infant child to an emergency room in March 2014, from which the child was transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
“It was found that the infant had in excess of 25 broken bones to her ribs, legs, fingers, toes, shoulders and multiple skull fractures, in various stages of healing, as well as significant brain injury,” according to Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn’s office.
Photo courtesy of the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office
The child was placed into permanent custody of Athens County Children Services in December 2014 on the order of the Athens County Common Pleas Juvenile Division.
Fannon and Thompson were present for jury selection and opening statements, along with the presentation of the defense’s case, including Fannon’s testimony, a release by the prosecutor’s office stated.
But on May 12, Fannon and Thompson did not appear for court. Common Pleas Judge George McCarthy ordered nationwide arrest warrants for both after attorneys could not reach them.
The pair will have a Rule 4, also called an extradition hearing, to determine when they will be returned to Athens County.
“Upon returning to Athens County, Fannon and Thompson, will have bond hearings and ultimately sentencing hearings will be held,” Blackburn wrote in the release.