Colliers woman charged with child abuse and neglect

Kelanie B. Blanton, a 27-year-old woman from Colliers, faces serious charges of child abuse and gross child neglect in Brooke County Magistrate Court. The West Virginia State Police launched an investigation after Blanton brought her injured infant to the hospital, where a fractured skull and multiple bruises were discovered. Initially, Blanton suggested the injuries could have occurred while the child was at a babysitter's. During the investigation, authorities found another child under her care living in hazardous conditions, including moldy walls and trash-filled floors in the basement where they slept.

Blanton conceded to yanking the infant from its car seat, maintaining that she did not intend to harm the child. Police reported that Blanton had placed the infant to sleep in the basement without a monitor the night before seeking medical attention. This case raises alarming questions about child safety and the conditions in which vulnerable children are being raised. The ongoing legal proceedings will determine the consequences of her actions and the safety of the children involved.