Cumberland, MD – A frantic medical emergency call for a child in distress led first responders to a quiet Allegany County home Tuesday, but what began as a routine call quickly unraveled into a disturbing child abuse investigation resulting in two arrests.
Kayle Lynn Keller, 25, and Liam Robert Lafferty, 23, both of Lonaconing, were taken into custody after first responders from the Midland Fire Department and Allegany County emergency personnel arrived at the scene and found injuries on the child that prompted immediate concern. Deputies from the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, who were in the area, responded to assist and swiftly contacted the county’s Combined Criminal Investigations Unit (C3I) after observing evidence consistent with possible abuse.
Following an on-scene investigation and interviews, both Keller and Lafferty were arrested and charged with multiple felony offenses, including first-degree child abuse, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment. The nature of the child’s injuries has not been released, but authorities confirmed the situation warranted an urgent criminal investigation.
The couple was brought before a District Court Commissioner, who ordered them held without bond. Both suspects are currently housed at the Allegany County Detention Center pending further court proceedings. The identity and current condition of the child have not been disclosed.
Investigators from the C3I Unit are continuing to gather evidence and interview witnesses as the case moves forward through the judicial process.
The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details regarding the child’s relationship to the suspects or the circumstances surrounding the medical emergency.
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Key Points
- Emergency responders discovered suspected child abuse after responding to a medical call in Lonaconing
- Two adults, Kayle Lynn Keller and Liam Robert Lafferty, were arrested and held without bail
- Both face charges including first-degree child abuse, assault, and reckless endangerment
A child’s medical emergency revealed what deputies say was a case of serious abuse hidden in plain sight.
