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West Virginia State Police said a Burnsville, Braxton couple faces charges after their 1-month-old child suffered fractures to both of his legs.
Whitney King, 23, and Carey Coffman, 24, were arrested Thursday by a trooper with the State Police Crimes Against Children Unit on two counts of felony child neglect resulting in injury, according to a news release from State Police.
On Sept. 21, a trooper began an investigation after the child was admitted to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown with a fractured left leg.
State Police said the fracture was identified as a "bucket handle" fracture, commonly associated with abuse, especially with a child of the victim's age.
Doctors also discovered the infant's right leg had been previously fractured and was healing, State Police said.
After consulting with medical personnel and with changing stories provided by child's biological parents, King and Coffman, State Police determined the child's injuries were of an abusive nature. State Police said neither parent could reasonably explain how the two separate injuries occurred.
During the trooper's investigation, King continued to be confrontational and uncooperative, while also attempting to conceal the whereabouts of the child's sibling after Child Protective Services tried to take state custody, State Police said.
King and Coffman also refused to be interviewed any further in reference to finding out how the victim was injured.
King and Coffman were arraigned in Braxton County Magistrate Court and posted a $5,000 cash or surety bond and were released.
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