Bryant L. Sykes Jr. told investigators that he threw 18-month-old Ada Bowman onto a bed with enough force that her body bounced and struck a table, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed today in Newton County Circuit Court.
Sykes, 24, who is the boyfriend of Bowman’s mother, Gina L. Salazar, 22, was charged this morning with first-degree assault in connection with injuries sustained by the girl on Tuesday inside a residence in the BYKOTA Mobile Home Park on Route FF southeast of Joplin.
The child remains in critical condition at Children’s Hospital in Kansas City. According to the affidavit, a social worker told a sheriff’s investigator that the girl is being kept alive only by “miracles of modern medicine.”
Sykes told investigators during questioning Wednesday that he became upset with the girl and her brother and sister, ages 3 and 2, for getting into the dog food and making a mess about 2 p.m. Tuesday. While making the two older children help him clean up the mess, he threw the toddler onto a bed and she bounced and struck a coffee table, Sykes reportedly told investigators.
Sykes said the girl was crying, her abdomen became swollen and she began “acting different” at that point, but no medical help was sought. The affidavit states that Sykes said it was not until seven hours later that he sat the girl on a kitchen table in front of an air conditioner to cool her off and she fell, striking her chest against a chair and her head on the floor.
The girl then became unresponsive and he began yelling for neighbors to call 911, the affidavit states.
The affidavit does not state where the mother was during the reported incident involving the children and the dog food. Salazar reportedly left her three children in Sykes’ care while she went to the store Tuesday night. According to Sheriff Ken Copeland, the mother was gone about 15 minutes and was met upon her return home by a panicking Sykes who told her the girl had stopped breathing.
Emergency medical technicians found the girl in cardiac arrest when they arrived at the address and used CPR to revive her.
The mother has not been charged with any offense, although her two older children were removed from her care and placed in state protective custody while the child-abuse investigation continues.
Crime & Courts
Related Photos
-
Bryant L. Sykes Jr. Courtesy/Newton County Sheriff's Department
Discussion
Affidavit: Mother’s boyfriend admitted throwing girl
Angry about mess made by children
- Crime & Courts
-
-
Arma mother facing murder charge in sleeping baby’s death
Heather Buckalew fell asleep on a couch with her 4-month-old baby after a night last summer drinking beer with her boyfriend. The boyfriend, Donald Harvey, got up to go to work a few hours later and spotted his son, lying face down on a pillow between the back of the couch and his sleeping mother.
-
Vandals cause $37,000 in damage at Joplin business
A Joplin business owner was the victim of a weekend vandalism spree that resulted in an estimated $37,000 in damages and theft, in addition to putting the company out of service for at least two days.
-
Two plead guilty to post-tornado wire theft
Two defendants pleaded guilty Monday to stealing copper wire from utility poles in the wake of the May 22, 2011, tornado that struck Joplin. Timothy M. Silveria, 45, of Joplin, and Nycoa K. Kracht, 32, of Laurel, Ind., entered open pleas of guilty in Jasper County Circuit Court to felony counts of theft from a public utility.
-
Firefighters douse blaze inside wall; no injuries cited
The Joplin Fire Department used thermal-imaging equipment Wednesday night to detect a hidden fire inside a residence.
-
Exeter resident hurt in accident in Barry County
An Exeter resident was injured in a single-vehicle accident at 2:15 p.m. Thursday on Missouri Highway 76, two miles west of Exeter in Barry County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
-
Pittsburg couple arrested; children taken out of home
PITTSBURG, Kan. — A Pittsburg couple was arrested and their three children removed from their care Wednesday when narcotics officers allegedly seized marijuana, methamphetamine and other items in a search of their home.
-
Joplin man arrested on felony charge of past sexual abuse
A 16-year-old girl’s recent disclosures to her mother regarding past sexual abuse has led to the arrest and charging of a Joplin man.
-
Identity-theft victim jailed on culprit’s warrant
Kurt Millard spent most of last weekend in the Jasper County Jail, locked up on another man’s arrest warrant. The 26-year-old Joplin resident could not convince his jailers they had the wrong guy. “I got the run-around the whole weekend,” Millard told the Globe. “I didn’t even get to wish my mother a happy Mother’s Day.”
-
Attorney general files suit against California contractor
Attorney General Chris Koster on Thursday filed a lawsuit against a California man, alleging he failed to provide construction materials and home repair services that had been paid for by victims of the Joplin tornado.
-
Pierce City man hurt in accident in Barry County
A Pierce City man was injured in a single-vehicle accident at 7 a.m. Wednesday on Missouri Highway 248, two miles west of Jenkins in Barry County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
- More Crime & Courts Headlines
-
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
