A Ponca City infant is in critical condition and a woman was arrested for child neglect, abuse and obstruction of justice.
According to a news release from the Ponca City Police Department Monday afternoon, Alliance Medical staff reported a 2-month-old had been brought in by ambulance last Friday just before noon with a suspicious head injury and was transported to OU Children’s Hospital.
The child was immediately sent to surgery. Ponca City Detectives were dispatched to investigate.
Detectives determined that 26-year-old Holly Marie Sheppard was the only caregiver present when the child received the injuries. Sheppard was interviewed and initially denied any knowledge of how the injuries were sustained. She went on to state that she had dropped the child twice.
The PCPD told Cowley Post Tuesday morning Sheppard is not the child’s mother. The department added Sheppard is not a licensed daycare provider and does not operate a licensed daycare facility.
Detectives spoke with the doctors, who advised that the head injury was inconsistent with a fall.
As of the news release Monday afternoon, Sheppard is being held at the Kay County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
