Two in custody following child abuse investigation

CHARLESTON, Mo. - An infant is expected to make a full recovery after an investigation into a report of child abuse at a rural Mississippi County home.

According to Mississippi County Sheriff Cory Hutcheson, the investigation began Sunday morning when his Office received a report of child abuse.

Sergeant Ryan Hill discussed the report with a caseworker from the Missouri Children's Division and identified the suspect as Wisconsin native Joshua Johnson, Hutcheson said in a news release. Johnson was located a short time later and arrested.

Joshua JohnsonPhoto courtesy of Cory Hutcheson

Joshua JohnsonPhoto courtesy of Cory Hutcheson

Through their investigation officers developed probable cause to believe Johnson had slammed the infant's head into the side of a bed on the first night, and on the two subsequent nights, had struck the infant repeatedly with a blunt object, Hutcheson reported.

"Deputies further determined that despite noticing new and progressively worse injuries to the infant each night she was entrusted to Johnson's care, Destiny Patrick failed to report the abuse or seek medical attention. Instead, she reportedly continued to leave her one-year old daughter with Johnson nightly until the abuse was discovered by the child's father," Hutcheson said.

The infant was treated at a local hospital and is in the father's care. Hutcheson said the child is expected to make a full recovery.

Johnson, 22, is charged with two felony counts of first degree child abuse and the felony of first degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Patrick, 18, of East Prairie, is also charged with the felony of first degree endangering the welfare of child and failure of a mandated reporter to report child abuse/neglect. The latter charge stems from the violation of her legal duty as a certified nurse assistant to report suspected child abuse, Hutcheson said.

Patrick was released Monday afternoon after posting a $75,000 surety bond.

As of press time, Johnson remains in the Mississippi County Detention Center with his bond set at $200,000.