Marble – An Andrews man has been charged with intentional child abuse following an incident last month that left a toddler suffering from serious injuries.
“This child has some extensive injuries that will probably follow him through the rest of his life,” Cherokee County sheriff’s Lt. Tiffany Holland said.
Lucius Cain Day, 36, allegedly fled the county after the child was taken to the hospital for treatment. Local authorities learned Day was being held in Union County on Nov. 10, when Georgia officials contacted them about Day’s warrants in North Carolina.
Day was extradited to Cherokee County to face the local charges and has since posted 10 percent of a $100,000 secured bond.
Around 6:40 p.m. Nov. 3, law enforcement officials received a call from Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital in Peachtree regarding a possible case of child abuse. According to the arrest warrant, Day was appointed as the child’s “temporary supervisor” by the mother, who was not present at the time of the incident.
Court documents say the child suffered bilateral bruising, retinal hemorrhaging and an 8mm shift of the brain. Officials believe the child may suffer seizures the rest of his life.
Officials say a relative rushed the child to the hospital, where Day later told doctors the kid jumped off a couch, resulting in the injuries.
“The doctors said that’s not consistent with the injuries,” Holland said.
The child was flown to a hospital in Tennessee for additional treatment, and Day allegedly fled the county a short time later. Officials say Day was arrested in Georgia and charged with possession of a firearm during certain crimes, possession of methamphetamine and possession of other controlled substances.