WESTON, W.Va. — A special grand jury in Lewis County has indicted six adults in connection with alleged abuse of a 4-month-old baby.
Eric Auen, Jr. and Alexis Benedum were charged late last year after the baby was admitted to WVU Medicine Children’s in December with a brain bleed, a fractured skull, bleeding behind the eyes, broken ribs, organ damage and bruises over the body.
Investigators said Auen was physically abusing the baby and Benedum did not report the injuries to the baby.
A special grand jury has indicted Auen, Benedum and four other adults on charges of child neglect and violation of child abuse reporting procedures.
Prosecutors said Stephen Benedum, Kristina Benedum, Katelyn Bunch and Jessica Embrey now face child neglect charges.
The Benedums have been indicted on six counts of felony gross neglect of a child creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Kristina also faces one misdemeanor count of persons mandated to report suspected abuse.
Bunch and Embrey each face one misdemeanor count of child abuse reporting procedures and five felony counts of gross neglect of a child creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Bunch is also facing one misdemeanor count of persons mandated to report suspected abuse.