A Vancouver couple are accused of criminal mistreatment after their friend discovered that the couple’s 2-month-old son was severely neglected and malnourished.
The infant was rushed to a local hospital, where a doctor determined the baby had only gained about a pound since birth and was suffering a possible brain bleed, among other health issues, court records show.
Parents Kirk J. Lee Jr. and Tamera Weinert, both 24, appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of second-degree criminal mistreatment. Lee also faces an allegation of attempting to elude police.
Clark County sheriff’s deputies were called at 9:35 p.m. Friday. The 911 caller, Angelia Gavagan, reported that she was babysitting her friend’s son and that the infant showed signs of neglect, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
A medical team also responded and determined the baby was malnourished. He was rushed to Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, the affidavit says.
Gavagan told deputies she’s been friends with Weinert since high school. Weinert and Lee are dating and have two children together, the baby and a 6-year-old daughter, she said. Weinert and her family are homeless, Gavagan said, and had been living in their car, court records state.
Gavagan said she was concerned about the well-being of the children and invited Weinert and her family to stay with her Thursday night. The next morning, she gave the couple a ride to Portland to pick up a car that was being repaired. She agreed to watch their children while they were gone, according to court documents.
The baby was being very fussy, Gavagan said. She and a neighbor, Shawni Pederson, decided to give the baby a bath, because he had a full soggy diaper and smelled strongly of urine, Pederson said. It was during the bath that they noticed the baby was filthy and had blisters and a rash on his genitals, the affidavit says.
Gavagan said that the baby looked too skinny and was lethargic; she had to physically wake him up to feed him. His fingertips were a purple-blue color, and at times, it appeared he struggled to breathe, court records state.
Gavagan called Child Protective Services four times to make a report, she said, but her calls went to voicemail each time.
Lee and Weinert returned to Gavagan’s residence that evening, and Lee appeared to be under the influence of heroin, she said. The couple wanted to take the children, but Gavagan said she convinced them to leave the children with her. When the couple left again, she called 911, according to court documents.
A doctor at the hospital told investigators she was concerned about the baby’s lack of muscle mass and weight gain since birth. The baby weighed 6.14 pounds at birth and now only weighs 7.25 pounds. A CAT scan also found the baby was suffering a possible brain bleed.
The baby and his sister were placed in protective custody.
After deputies responded to Gavagan’s residence, Lee and Weinert returned but fled in their vehicle when they saw law enforcement.
The couple’s vehicle was later located traveling east on Northeast St. Johns Road near Northeast 88th Street. The vehicle turned north onto Northeast 50th Avenue, where deputies attempted to stop it and a chase ensued, according to a separate probable cause affidavit.
The vehicle sped off, traveling an estimated 80 mph in a 40 mph zone. At one point, the couple’s vehicle nearly collided with another vehicle in the oncoming lane south of Northeast 119th Street and ran the red light at 50th Avenue and 119th Street, the affidavit states.
The pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns, but the couple were located the next day.
Lee and Weinert are being held on $35,000 and $20,000 bail, respectively. They will be arraigned Friday.
