Couple accused of disabling 3-month-old son
By Ryan Jeltema
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LAPEER COUNTY, Michigan (WJRT) — A Davison Township couple is facing torture and child abuse charges after bringing their 3-month-old son to an area hospital with severe injuries last fall.
Court records show 30-year-old Troy Holt and 27-year-old Alyssa Holt were charged last week with first-degree child abuse and torture for allegedly causing severe and permanently disabling injuries to the infant.
Troy Holt is facing an additional charge of third-degree child abuse. Both parents face up to life in prison if they are convicted.
Lapeer County Prosecutor John Miller called the case one of the worst incidents of child abuse in his career.
The Holts sought medical attention for their son at McLaren Lapeer Region hospital last September because he was lethargic and unresponsive, according to the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office.
Hospital staff realized the boy was suffering from numerous fractures, detached retinas in his eyes and a serious brain bleed.
“There were extensive injures that were very, very irregular for a baby that was only a couple months old,” Miller said.
He said the Holts allegedly blamed the injuries on a series of accidents in their home in the 900 block of Martin Drive in Lapeer County’s Attica Township.
The boy was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at Hurley Children’s Hospital in Flint and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, where he received treatment for a couple months.
Miller said the abuse likely happened over a long period of time. The baby survived his injuries, but he has permanent disabilities.
“He is going to suffer from these injuries from the rest of his life,” he said.
The prosecutor’s office obtained a emergency court order soon after the child’s injuries were discovered that limited the Holts’ parental rights. They were allowed only supervised visits while the investigation continued.
“We took precautions pretty early on because we knew these injuries were definitely not normal,” Miller said.
Michigan Child Protective Services and the prosecutor’s office eventually obtained a court order that permanently terminated the Holts’ parental rights. Their son now is living with a foster family.
Miller worked with an expert from the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, who determined the child’s injuries were the result of abuse. Miller issued arrest warrants for the couple last week based on the expert’s opinion.
Police arrested Alyssa Holt at a residence in the 2000 block of Lily Court in Davison Township on Friday morning. Police arrested Troy Holt on Friday afternoon at the Fort Custer military base near Battle Creek, where he was attending training with the Michigan National Guard.
The Holts appeared in Lapeer County District Court for arraignment last Friday. They remain in custody at the Lapeer County Jail on $200,000 bond apiece while awaiting a probable cause hearing on May 8.
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