A Texas mother who admitted to causing her 2-month-old son’s severe brain trauma by throwing him into a door in April 2017 was sentenced to prison last week.
The Mineral Wells Index reported that Brooke Lauren Reed, 26, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree injury to a child causing serious bodily injury. Due to her son’s injuries, Reed is required to serve half her sentence before she’s eligible for parole.
Citing doctors, prosecutors said the infant suffered about 10 percent brain loss, which has affected the use of his upper extremities in addition to causing cognitive and developmental issues. Palo Pinto County District Attorney Kriste Burnett said Reed nearly killed her son after believing the baby’s father had left the home to do drugs, noting the couple had a history of methamphetamine and marijuana use, according to the Index.
Police responded to the home and found Reed on the floor with her infant son, who was lying motionless near the front door. The news outlet reported that Reed initially claimed her son was sick but confessed to throwing him into the door because he wouldn’t stop crying.
The infant was airlifted to the hospital. His condition improved until he was placed into his grandmother’s custody, where he remains.
Burnett told the Index that the toddler is still unable to speak nearly two years after his mother nearly killed him.
She said, “He is special needs and he always will be special needs.”
[Featured image: Brooke Reed/Palo Pinto Sheriff’s Office]
