The mother of a baby abused by a man she lived with turned herself in and was charged Tuesday, according to police.
On March 11, Matthew Paul Jenkins from Bessemer City was arrested for alleged abuse of the baby, who was 14 months old at the time.
Jenkins was charged with inflicting serious bodily injury, felony assault, and misdemeanor assault on a child below the age of 12, and was jailed on secured bond of $250,000.
Warrants were issued March 16 for Taylor Rainer Wilhem of Cherryville, the baby’s mother.
After turning herself in and being put in Gaston County Jail, Wilhelm was charged with serious physical injury, felony child abuse, and misdemeanor contributing to abuse of a juvenile.
Wilhelm is jailed under a secured bond of $250,000.
The assault occurred in Jenkins’ home and was report in January and February.
Wilhelm saw swelling and bruises on the baby’s head, face, and eyes, the mother told Gaston County police.
The child was taken by Wilhelm to Caromon Regional Medical Center before being transferred to Charlotte’s Levine’s Children’s Hospital.
The examination showed the child had suffered acute blunt force trauma but is expected to fully recover, police said.
Supervised by Gaston County Health and Human Services, the child is now in foster care.
Gaston County Police ask anyone with more information on the case to call them at 704-866-3320.
