This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Marydel, Maryland, adoptive parent Justin A. Bradley, 26, has been charged with “first-degree child abuse, following the death of his 4-month-old adopted son [Ronin] the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office reported.”
Justin “is being held at the Caroline County Detention Center on $1 million bond.”
“Police said they responded to Bradley’s home just after midnight Saturday [March 3, 2012] for a report of a 4-month-old child not breathing. Caroline County Emergency Medical Services personnel and the Marydel Volunteer Fire Company also responded.
The infant was in cardiac arrest upon arrival of EMS personnel, police said, and was taken by ambulance to Kent General Hospital in Dover, Del., where he was pronounced dead.
Police said the Delaware Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy and ruled the death a homicide, caused by blunt force trauma to the head.
Bradley was charged with first-degree child abuse resulting in death, manslaughter, first- and second-degree assault, neglect of a minor and reckless endangerment.”
“According to a statement filed in Caroline County District Court by an investigating sheriff’s deputy, Bradley is married to the infant’s mother, Brandy Lynn Hobgood-Bradley, and is the infant’s adoptive father, with full care and custody rights.
Hobgood-Bradley told police she left for work around 2:45 p.m. Friday, leaving Bradley in charge of three children: the infant, a 2-year-old and a 7-year-old.
Hobgood-Bradley said she tried unsuccessfully to call her husband several times near the end of her shift. When she got home at 12:10 a.m. Saturday, she found Bradley passed out on his bed and the infant in a playpen in the same room, not breathing.
After calling 911, Hobgood-Bradley tried to perform CPR on the infant.
The statement said Bradley told police he took synthetic marijuana, Hydrocodone and seven to 12 shots of Captain Morgan rum after his wife left for work.
Bradley said he put the two older children to bed around 10:30 p.m., and then passed out in his bed at 10:45 p.m., with the infant on the bed with him.
Bradley said he does not remember anything after that until his wife got home, including how the infant got into the playpen.
The statement said Bradley said he did not know what caused the infant’s death, but he accepted responsibility.
The two older children have been placed with family members by the Caroline County Department of Social Services, police said.
Police said they were also assisted by the Caroline County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Maryland State Police Crime Lab and the Delaware State Medical Examiner’s Office throughout the investigation, which is ongoing.
Bradley is set to appear April 2 in Caroline County District Court for a preliminary hearing.”
Marydel man charged in death of boy, 4 months
[The Star Democrat 3/6/12 by Abby Andrews]
Ronin Bradley
[The Capital Hometown Annapolis obituary]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update/March 5, 2013: No more media stories were found. A search of public court records of Caroline County, Maryland reveals that on 9/6/12 he pled guilty to murder in the second degree. He was sentenced to 25 years with 15 years suspended followed by 5 years of supervised probation. He pled nolle prosequi to the following charges on 9/6/12: child abuse, 1st degree death;manslaugher; assault 1st degree; assault 2nd degree; neglect of minor; and reckless endangerment.
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