Caregiver and parents arrested on severe child abuse charges in Jacksonville

In a horrific child abuse case that emerged in Jacksonville, a caregiver and the child's parents were arrested on severe charges. According to records obtained by News4JAX, 30-year-old Zaben Kinard and his 28-year-old wife Jasmine Kinard were remanded to the Duval County Jail on 1 July. The couple will face three counts of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm. Alexus Wortman, a 27-year-old caregiver living in the same household, faces three counts of aggravated child abuse and two counts of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm. The incident has drawn the attention of local authorities and the public to issues regarding child protection systems and domestic violence.

The severity of the young victim's condition came to light when they were transferred from Baptist Hospital Town Center to Wolfson Children's Hospital on 30 Haziran. An examination at the hospital revealed a skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, a fractured sternum, and rib fractures in various stages of healing. Additionally, it was reported that there was blood pooling in the child's stomach and a human bite mark on their left leg. These findings clearly indicate that the child was subjected to continuous and repeated physical abuse. Authorities stated that there is no guarantee the child will survive.

During interrogations, Wortman confessed to at least three separate incidents of abuse that occurred between 11-29 Haziran. Stating that she woke up in a bad mood on 11 Haziran and threw an object at the child, Wortman said she hid the incident from the parents out of fear of being kicked out of the house. On 24 Haziran, she claimed that she slipped on wet grass while carrying the child, causing the child's head to strike the back of a vehicle. Finally, on 29 Haziran, she admitted to violently intervening with the child due to a mess in the playroom and forcefully pushing them into a closet area. Each of these incidents led to the child's progressively worsening and life-threatening injuries.

It was learned that during the medical intervention process, the child was intubated and diagnosed with brain damage. Investigators pointed out that this damage could have been prevented had Wortman reported the abuse earlier. Wortman cited her fear of becoming homeless and being denied bail as the reasons for her delay in reporting the injuries. This confession reveals both the dramatic condition of the victimized child and how distorted the perpetrator's priorities were. Authorities evaluated both the negligence and intent elements of the incident and directed the charges accordingly.

The investigation revealed that the parents were also aware of the situation but failed to act. Zaben Kinard admitted noticing a "pattern" after the three incidents and acknowledged his failure to protect the child. Jasmine Kinard, despite knowing that the child's injuries were not caused by allergic reactions, allowed the medical staff to continue treatment under this misconception. The couple stated that they talked about the situation but decided to remain silent in order "not to make waves." This case once again highlights the critical importance of preventing child abuse and reporting it promptly when detected.