Marshall County Sheriff’s Department officers were advised Thursday, May 16 that an 8-month-old child had been taken into St. Joseph Regional Hospital for injuries that were allegedly obtained from a fall. Child Protective Services had also been notified and were en route to the hospital.
Police say the child was observed to have various marks and bruises in different healing stages on different parts of her body. The tending physician explained that the child had a skeletal survey completed at the ER that indicated a healing 8th rib fracture, according to the report. The child was placed into an alternate caregiver home.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Detective Bureau then started a criminal investigation into the situation.
A case report was completed and forwarded to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office for review. It was Friday, September 6 when the Prosecutor’s Office filed formal criminal charges of Neglect of a Dependent, a Level 5 Felony, against 21-year-old Julia Harrison-Gibbs, and 21-year-old Andrew Paluzzi, of South Bend.
A Marshall County Sheriff’s Department officer traveled to South Bend and with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department located both parties. Andrew Paluzzi along with Julia Harrison-Gibbs were arrested, transported and booked into the Marshall County Jail on the charges.
Suspects are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
