Woman Accused Of Child Abuse Didn't Show Up For Court
Husband Also No Show For His Court Date
Last updated Wednesday, June 15, 2005 10:27 PM CDT in News
By Trish Mehaffey
The Morning News
FAYETTEVILLE -- A 22-year-old Fayetteville woman accused of permitting abuse of her 3-year-old daughter didn't show up Wednesday for her court appearance, according to court records.
Honey N. Gantt, 22, was to appear in court Wednesday but has been missing since her husband, Sedrick A. Gantt, 26, who also faces the same charge, didn't show up for his court date in April. They have been charged separately in the case.
Washington County Prosecutor Terry Jones said he didn't know the whereabouts of the Gantts and apparently their attorneys can't find them.
Their 3-year-old daughter fell from a bathtub while in the care of stepfather Sedrick Gantt and was taken to a doctor who discovered multiple injuries on the child's body in 2003.
She was then admitted for a medical exam and further testing to the Arkansas Children's Hospital in November 2003, according to a police report.
Jones said the injuries varied in age and were in various stages of healing, included bruising all over her body; fractures to her skull, shoulders and six ribs; and internal injuries to the pancreas and the stomach area. Both of her arms had also been broken at one time, he said.
During the time of the injuries the child was living with both Honey and Sedrick Gantt, according to a police report. The couple was arrested in September 2004.
Jones said it didn't matter if it was the mother or stepfather who committed the abuse because anyone who knew this kind of abuse was happening should be held accountable.
The child is in custody of a family member.
Reader Comments (No comments posted.)
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
