Edwardsville Illinois Toddler Seriously Injured After Days of Abuse

Two-year-old Amanda Runyon is still recovering after several weeks in the hospital and multiple surgeries. According to the Globe-Democrat, the toddler was brought to the hospital on March 1st after the child was vomiting and drifting in and out of consciousness. Authorities later revealed that the injuries occurred after days of abuse at the hands of the child’s mother’s boyfriend, 24-year-old Kraig Monroe.

Monroe was arrested in his trailer on the same afternoon the child was admitted to the hospital. Besides suffering from a broken arm and severe bruising, doctors were forced to remove ¼ of Runyon’s intestines. Monroe is being charged with aggravated battery of a child. He is currently being held on $500,000 bail.

At the time of the beating, the toddler was living in a trailer with her mother, Dawn Obptande. When authorities came to the trailer to arrest Monroe, they noted that the living conditions were unsanitary and found drug paraphernalia inside the residence.

Runyon’s condition has recently been upgraded to fair from serious and has been moved out of the intensive care unit at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, where she was airlifted over two weeks ago. At this time, no charges have been pressed against the child’s mother.

Child abuse is a serious issue in the United States. Childhelp, a national organization that seeks to prevent child abuse, estimates that almost five children die on a daily basis as a result of abuse or neglect. Almost 68% of child abuse occurs at the hands of a family member.

Abuse can come from not only a family member, but also occurs at daycares, nursing homes, schools and other care centers. If you know someone who may be suffering from abuse, you may have a claim. Please do not hesitate to contact the law firm of WWF&G at 1-800-WWFGLAW or 618-567-8030 for a free consultation.