Cincinnati, OH – A mother is facing serious charges after being accused of abusing her young son. Jennifer Parker, 43, appeared in court on Wednesday to plead not guilty to three counts of child endangerment.
Prosecutors allege that Parker engaged in hospital shopping, bringing her two-year-old son to medical facilities for conditions he did not have. According to Assistant Butler County Prosecutor Lindsay Sheehan, the child has been hospitalized more than 20 times under Parker’s care since birth.
Sheehan informed the court that Parker’s children were removed from her custody in May. Since the removal, the two-year-old has reportedly not been hospitalized and is thriving.
Concerns were raised by staff at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic regarding Parker’s treatment of her son. Allegations include that she interfered with his ability to eat properly and provided unnecessary medical interventions, such as insulin.
In court, Sheehan noted that staff cited instances where Parker did not provide appropriate medical care and refused to transition her son off a feeding tube that he may not have needed.
Parker addressed claims against her in a Facebook post, stating that she was not the only parent under scrutiny by hospital staff. She mentioned another parent who faced similar allegations by the same inpatient team.
Her fiancé, Michael Carpenter, spoke to the media following the court session, defending Parker as a caring mother who sought the best for her children. He mentioned their son’s ongoing health issues since birth.
Parker was arrested on Monday and is being held on a $50,000 bond at Butler County Jail. She was ordered not to contact her children, who remain under the care of Butler County Children Services. Her next court appearance, for a plea or trial setting, is scheduled for Nov. 24.