Police investigate alleged abuse case
The following is an official press release from the Lapeer County Sheriff Department:
CHILD ABUSE- ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO MURDER (Arrest)
Saturday 01-19-2019 at 8:34 PM
Nottingham Drive in Lapeer (Mayfield Township)
Incident Number: 190001445
Date of Release: Tuesday 01-22-2019 around 2:00 PM
Authority: Detective Sgt. Jason Parks
On Saturday 01-19-2019 at 8:34 PM, Lapeer County 911 dispatched Lapeer County Sheriff’s Deputies to McLaren in Lapeer (Emergency Department) for a 17 month old child with life threatening trauma injuries. The child was immediate transfer to Hurley Medical Center in Flint due to the severity of injuries.
The 17 month old girl was brought into the hospital by her mother and a friend. The trauma occurred at a residence located on Nottingham Drive in Lapeer (Lapeer County’s Mayfield Township) and abuse was immediately suspected.
The child’s mother has been staying at this residence for the past few months with a friend (married couple with children- child’s mother is friends with the wife).
The friend’s husband was alone watching this child and four additional children when the trauma occurred. The married couple is the parents of three of the children present within the home at the time and he was additionally watching the victim and a 3 year old sibling. The oldest child in the house was 5 years old and the youngest was one years old.
Deputies immediately responded and secured the residence. The other four children did not have any injuries or trauma. Deputies executed a search warrant at the residence to collect and secure evidence during the early morning hours of Sunday 01-20-2019.
The adult watching the children was subsequently arrested (the children were eliminated as for being responsible for the victim’s trauma) during the early morning hours of Sunday 01-20-2019. Further details can’t be provided at this time to prevent compromising an on-going investigation. The individual was immediately lodged at the Lapeer County Jail.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Child Protective Services) responded and all remaining children were immediately removed from the residence and temporarily placed with relatives.
The 17 month old victim remains in critical condition at Hurley Medical Center in Flint with a life threatening head injury.
On Monday 01-21-2019, deputies presented the case to Lapeer County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Hinojosa. The following formal criminal charges were authorized.
1) Child Abuse 1st degree (life felony or any number of years)
2) Assault with intent to murder (life felony)
On Monday 01-21-2019, Emmanuel Castaneda age 28 from Lapeer was arraigned by 71-A District Court Magistrate Mike Delling.
Emmanuel Castaneda age 28- Lapeer
Source: Booking photographs from Lapeer County Jail
Emmanuel Castaneda remains at the Lapeer County Jail on a million dollar cash or surety bond. Next court appearance in the 71-A District Court is scheduled for
02-01-2019.
This remains an activity investigation by the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office.
