4-week-old hospitalized following abuse by parents

A 4-week-old boy was transported to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis on Friday for head trauma allegedly induced by his parents. Bloomington Police were unaware of the child’s condition Sunday afternoon.

The infant’s father, Jonathan N. Terneus, 20, and mother, Shawnna Lloyd, 18, were both arrested Friday for aggravated battery, neglect of a dependent and false informing, BPD Sgt. Dana Cole said.

At about 7:20 p.m. Friday, Lloyd brought the infant to IU Health Bloomington Hospital with head injuries. Cole said Lloyd allegedly told hospital staff the child fell off his father’s lap and hit his head on the floor at about 9 a.m. Friday.

Because the child’s sustained injuries were not consistent with Lloyd’s account, Cole said hospital employees called police. When police arrived, Lloyd provided the same story.

After Terneus arrived at the hospital and provided a similar story, both were transported to the police station for further questioning, where Cole said Terneus then provided
a different story.

Terneus told detectives he was sleeping at about 9 a.m. in his home on the 2300 block of South Winslow Court when the child began to cry. When Terneus was awoken, Cole said he told police he placed his hand over the baby’s mouth in an effort to silence him.

After Terneus returned to bed, Cole said the baby began to cry a second time. Returning to silence the infant, Terneus allegedly hit his son with his hand, forcing the baby to hit his head on a wall.

During his interview with investigators, Cole said Terneus informed officials he had witnessed Lloyd strike the child in the past. Her criminal charges stem from his account of previous incidents.

­— Mark Keierleber