Not even the fact that it happened. The fact that it happened over and over again.
Parents charged in beating of baby girl Infant had broken neck, ribs, legs and brain damage Saturday, July 26, 2008 6:02 AM By and Theodore Decker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH 
Police say Joshua Carse, 22, left, beat the baby starting as early as 6 weeks, and Marlo Trembley, 18, allowed it.
There is little on Kaleah Carse’s 12-week-old body that hasn’t been broken.
When emergency-room doctors examined Kaleah two weeks ago, they found a broken neck, seven broken ribs and two broken legs. They say she also has brain damage, scars and was malnourished.
Court records show that doctors estimate Kaleah’s neck was broken and her airway bruised when she was 6 weeks old.
About two weeks later, her ribs were broken.
Then about two weeks ago, it was her legs that were broken, doctors say.
On July 11, when Kaleah was 10 weeks old, the baby’s grandmother pushed for her to be taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital; that’s when the injuries were discovered and police were called, Columbus Police Lt. William Fineran Jr. said.
Yesterday, Kaleah’s parents were in Franklin County Municipal Court to face charges as their daughter recovered at Children’s Hospital. Police say the baby’s father, Joshua Carse, beat her and the baby’s mother, Marlo Trembley, allowed it.
In court, Carse, 22, cupped his hands over his face as court officials read details related to the three counts of felonious assault and four counts of child endangering he faces.
Trembley, 18, stared blankly as a Columbus police officer testified about Kaleah’s brain atrophy and scars. Trembley is charged with two counts of endangering a child and one count of permitting child abuse.
Defense attorneys argued for a low bond. Carse, they said, wants to earn his high-school equivalency certificate and go to trucking school; Trembley is employed at a North Market food vendor and has fully cooperated with police. (I’m sorry that his dreams might be put off by this oh-so-mean court – no wait, Jesus Effing Christ, his daughter’s dreams are put off forever! But let’s let him get his degree, but not address his anger issues.)
Judge Andrea C. Peeples said the severity of the baby’s injuries can’t be ignored and set bail for Carse at $500,000. Trembley was placed under a $75,000 bond.
Both remained at the Franklin County jail last night.
How the abuse could have gone untreated for so long remains unclear.
Attorney Toure McCord, appointed to represent Trembley, said the young woman had taken the baby to Mount Carmel St. Ann’s hospital twice.
However, he did not know the dates that Kaleah was seen at the hospital, or why she had been taken there.
Hospital spokeswoman Janice Piscitelli said federal laws prohibit her from speaking about any of the hospital’s patients.
Franklin County Children Services social workers also had been around Trembley and the baby, said agency spokeswoman Doris Calloway Moore.
The agency had an “open case on the mom, something that is completely unrelated to the baby,” Moore said, adding that she could not elaborate. (Except for that whole part where she’s only a mom BECAUSE of this baby).
The case already was open on May 1, the day Kaleah was born, but it was about to be closed this summer because Trembley had turned 18 in February, Moore said.
It was unclear how closely social workers observed the baby or for how long.
The tests that doctors performed on the baby show that her injuries didn’t occur all at once, Fineran said.
“They can tell by the healing that there were three separate incidents.”
Carse watched the baby at Trembley’s apartment at 1925 Fiesta Court on the North Side while she worked, Trembley’s attorney said. Court records show that he lives at 850 Linwood Ave. on the South Side.
No one came to the door of Trembley’s apartment yesterday. The baby’s maternal grandmother, who also lives in Columbus, couldn’t be reached.
Trembley’s neighbors say nothing about the case makes sense.
“I don’t really think Josh did it,” said Jalisa Dunn, a neighbor in the Carlin Manor apartment complex north of Morse Road. “I’ve seen him with the baby, and he’s never been rough. It just doesn’t seem like something he would do.
“I just don’t see how it went unnoticed for so long,” said Dunn, a young mother herself. “You would know something is wrong with your child. I don’t care if you’re a new mom or not.”
(begin sarcasm)Has anyone considered they could be innocent due to self defense???? I mean those 12 week old babies can be viscious!! (end sarcasm)
How the hell could someone beat a 12 week old? Actually the question is how the hell could someone beat a 6 week old? Which is when they say it started.
I hate to quote a really bad movie here but it fits “The death penalty needs to be expanded to include lesser crimes.” (Judge Dredd)
Some people should need a license to breed and some obviously need a license to breath… Grrrr…
Ron – so right there with you.
I actually know the little girl that was beat. She’s doing so much better where she is now. I also can’t imagine what was going through that guy’s head when he was beating on a baby who couldn’t even defend herself.
@ TaeKwonDo – Thank you so much for the update. Glad to hear that she is doing well.