A Florida couple, Stephen Michael Palmer, 42, and Tina Joy Palmer, 37, have been arrested and charged with child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, following a tragic incident involving their 2-month-old son. Stephen Palmer is additionally facing a charge of aggravated child abuse or torture resulting in great bodily harm.
According to a probable cause affidavit, emergency responders were called on the morning of January 3, 2023, to Edwards Apartments in the 900 block of Collins Avenue in South Beach. The call was about an unresponsive infant. Stephen Palmer, who made the 911 call, reported finding his son unconscious, noting the child had “blue colored lips” while his wife was at work.
First responders performed CPR on the infant at the scene and rushed him to Mount Sinai Medical Center. Despite resuscitation efforts, the severity of the child’s condition necessitated intubation and an emergency airlift to the pediatric intensive care unit at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for specialized treatment.
Medical staff alerted the Miami-Dade Police Department about the victim’s injuries, which suggested consistent physical abuse. The infant suffered from 18 broken ribs and permanent brain damage, raising serious concerns about the regularity and severity of the abuse he endured.
The couple’s arrest and the subsequent charges highlight a grave instance of child abuse, drawing attention to the critical need for vigilance and protection of the most vulnerable in society. The case is under further investigation.