MUSKOGEE -- A Muskogee mother and father are now both behind bars and facing child abuse charges after police say their one month old is in critical condition after being repeatedly beaten.
Investigators said police arrested Emma Whitehead Thursday.
The Muskogee District Attorney charged Whitehead with enabling child abuse.
Police say Whitehead witnessed the one-month-old baby’s father, Robert Jones, try to smother and injure their baby.
Court documents show Jones is facing six felony child abuse charges.
Jones is being held on a $1,000,000 bond.
Jones’ next court date is scheduled for September.
According to court documents filed in the case, Police said Jones admitted to investigators he “didn’t seek medical attention sooner because he was scared of what would happen.”
2 Works For You spoke with CASA for Children on how parents could avoid situations like these.
Suzanne Hughes said as a last resort, safe places for children are fire stations and hospitals.
Hughes said situations like this case could be avoided.
“We hate to see any child hurt,” said Hughes. “…put in a position like this and the family that goes through this type of event, we just hope that they get help, we get the child proper help. We know that this case could be something we see down the road. You know we may have a CASA volunteer down the road. We just want to make sure that the child that’s been abused, that’s been affected gets all the possible help that we can give them.”
Hughes said child abuse crimes in the CASA for Children three country area are up.
She said volunteers worked on an additional 60 child abuse cases last year in Wagoner, Sequoyah and Muskogee Counties.
Resources for parents:
Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline for Oklahoma:
1-800-522-3511
National Child Abuse Hotline:
1-800-4-A-Child
1-800-422-4453
To learn more about Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
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