How Could You? Hall of Shame-Michelle Lee Hayes

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 Marshall, Texas, foster mother Michelle Lee Hayes, 42, “was arrested last week for injury to a child after she allegedly abused a toddler in her care which caused bruising, swelling and bleeding to the child’s brain.

“She’s a brand new foster parent,” said Shari Pulliam, media specialist for Child Protective Services.

According to the Marshall News Messenger, Pulliam said that the 1.5-year-old toddler boy, was one of three siblings that had just been placed in the Hayes’ home in Marshall in early April.

Pulliam said that as soon as they learned of the injuries, CPS responded immediately removing all of the children from the home.

“We took the appropriate steps,” she said. “We protected these children as soon as we heard about it and we’ll continue to work with law enforcement on this case.”

Hayes, was arrested last Friday and was released on Saturday on a $150,000 bond.

According to the arrest affidavit, Hayes is accused of hurting the child on or about May 2, which was last Tuesday, “by slamming his head against his crib causing bruising, swelling and bleeding in his brain; by squeezing his face causing bruising and swelling; by thumping his back causing bruising; and striking him with a spoon causing bruising.”

Police were warned about the abuse after being dispatched to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall for a child in the emergency department with significant injuries.

The ER Doctor informed investigators that the child’s injuries were not consistent with what Hayes told the medical staff upon arrival.

“The defendant initially stated that she had been at the City Park on Grove Street around 10:30 a.m. and the child fell from a play set, where he received his injuries,” the affidavit reads.”

Foster Mother Arrested On Child Injury Charge

[Kid Safety Network 5/10/17 by Hayley Malan]

“According to our KTBS media partner, the Marshall News Messenger, the arrest affidavit states the foster mom changed her story multiple times when speaking with police before admitting to slamming the toddler’s head against his crib, excessively squeezing his face, thumping his back, and striking him with a spoon. ”

“The child was initially taken to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall on May 2, where Hayes allegedly told medical officials the child suffered the injuries from falling off a playground. The ER physician informed investigators that her story did not match with the severity of the boy’s injuries.

The toddler was then transferred to Dallas Children’s Hospital.

Shari Pulliam, media specialist for Child Protective Services said as soon as they learned of the injuries, CPS responded immediately removing the toddler and his two siblings from the home.

“It’s very upsetting to us when we entrust the care of the children that we are responsible for being parents to, to someone else like a foster parent and something like this happens,” said Pulliam. “It affects every single one of us, from the investigator to the foster care worker, to the person who licensed that home.”

Hayes was a new foster parent – the children had only been in her care since April. Both of the toddlers siblings were evaluated and determined to be unharmed.”

Marshall foster mom arrested on child injury charge

[KTBS 5/10/17 by Amanda Atwell]

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