MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ) – A man and woman in Marinette County are facing charges of child neglect after a baby ended up in the hospital.
On February 2, the 4-and-a-half-month-old boy was taken to a Marinette hospital and eventually airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Wauwatosa.
Doctors there discovered the child had severe injuries including fractures to his skull and other parts of his body, brain injuries and bite marks, according to a criminal complaint. Doctors say some of the injuries were fresh, while others were not. They went on to say the injuries were unlikely to be caused by normal household accidents and likely came from the baby being slammed, shaken or thrown.
At this point, authorities don’t know who actually abused the baby.
The criminal complaint details that the baby’s mom, 33-year-old Katrina Blasing of Wausaukee, left the child with a friend in the Town of Stephenson. Blasing went to Milwaukee with the friend and the friend’s grandmother.
Another man at the house, 29-yeear-old Ryan Lenz of Crivitz, was watching the child. The complaint states he noticed the baby was injured and called Blasing, who told him to wait until she returned. Prosecutors say Lenz cared for the baby and called Blasing several times to ask if the child should be taken to the hospital. Each time, Blasing said to wait until she got back.
Several hours after Lenz first noticed the injuries, Blasing called 911 for medical help.
Both Blasing and Lenz are charged with child neglect resulting in great bodily harm. Neither is charged with child abuse.
Sheriff’s investigators are still looking for more information in the case. They ask that anyone who knows anything call them at (715) 732-7626.
