LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) — Two parents were arrested Thursday, Jan. 15, in what Louisville Metro Police described as a significant child abuse case.
According to police, detectives with the Special Victims Unit Office of Sexual and Physical Investigations were contacted after a child believed to be about two years old was taken to UofL Hospital in full cardiac arrest.
The arrest citation states the child was transported to the hospital by private means and that 911 was never called.
Officials said the child was resuscitated and later transferred to Norton Children’s Hospital.
Hospital records showed the child suffered a skull fracture, multiple missing teeth, healing rib fractures estimated to be at least two weeks old, extensive bruising, severe anemia from blood loss, extreme malnourishment, and signs of damage to the muscles, liver, and pancreas.
Detectives with the Special Victims Unit and Child Protective Services then went to the parents’ home to check on the other children and have them evaluated at Norton Children’s Hospital.
When detectives and a CPS caseworker arrived, they found a child believed to be around one year old lying on a bed in the master bedroom with what were described as obvious signs of trauma. EMS was called to the scene, according to the citation.
Norton Children’s Hospital reported that the younger child had three possible skull fractures, a possible jaw fracture, signs of bleeding inside the skull, extreme malnourishment, severe anemia from blood loss into the head and abdomen, lacerations above both eyes, possible mouth trauma, at least one missing tooth, and injuries to the nose.
The parents, identified as 27-year-old Nicholas Shanks and 25-year-old Shelby Kuntz, were interviewed by investigators. According to the citation, both stated that no one else had contact with the children and that they were the only caregivers.
Shanks and Kuntz are charged with assault involving domestic violence, criminal abuse of a child 12 or younger, and wanton endangerment for endangering the welfare of a minor.
Before Shanks was taken to the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections, he was asked whether he had any drugs or weapons and said he did not, according to police.
Once inside the facility, officers searched Shanks and reportedly found several pieces of a loose, translucent, crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. According to the citation, Shanks claimed the substance was rock salt used for roads, but a certified LMDC narcotics K-9 alerted to the substance, which was then sent for testing.
Shanks was additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance and promoting contraband.
Both Shanks and Kuntz are scheduled to be arraigned Friday, Jan. 15.
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