Portsmouth police have arrested a teen mother and the step-father of a 19-month-old child hospitalized with severe injuries.
Court documents uncovered by NewsChannel 3 show that the child was suffering from a ruptured liver, spleen and intestines; she also had internal bleeding and bruises to her stomach, face and leg when she was examined at CHKD.
On Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at 3:44 p.m. 18-year-old Eileen Rose Johnson called 911 and reported that her 19-month-old baby girl was sick. Police say Johnson asked medics to respond to her home in the 4200 block of Cedar Lane.
When medical team members arrived on the scene, they examined the child. Police were called to the scene due to the extent of the child's injuries.
The 19-month-old was immediately taken to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters.
Portsmouth officials say at the time of the original 911 call, only Johnson and her baby daughter were in the home.
The step-father of the child is Houstin Edward Myers, III of the 4200 block of Cedar Lane.
He is charged with two counts of malicious wounding related to the incident. Police say Myers was arrested Wednesday evening.
Court records show Johnson was charged with a different count of child neglect on May 9, 2012.
Myers, an E-4 in the Navy stationed at Norfolk Naval Station, told police that the bruises on the girl's stomach came from him holding her in the pool and the bruise on her leg was the result of him spilling hot tea on her; however, the court records show that doctors at CHKD said neither injury could have resulted from that explanation.
Both Johnson and Myers were granted $5,000 bond.
