A 39-year-old Arnaudville woman was arrested on Thursday for two counts of cruelty to juveniles, according to Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.
On December 12, 2018, detectives were informed of a five-month-old baby that had sustained a broken left femur and broken ribs. The treating pediatric physician stated that the rib fractures were caused by someone applying forceful compression to the rib cage area and the spiral fracture of the femur was caused by someone forcefully twisting it to the point of breakage. The femur injury appeared to have occurred within a week and the rib fractures occurring within a four-week window. Detectives interviewed the parents and obtained the name of a caregiver who was identified as Amy Wyble.
Detectives were investigating Wyble on a previous complaint of abuse of a three-month-old that had similar injuries under her care. The other child had sustained rib fractures, bruising to her left eye, a laceration to the tongue and top lip, stated Guidroz. Detectives working with the Department of Children and Family Services defined Wyble’s profession as a non-licensed daycare center, according to investigators.
During Wyble’s interview, she denied intentionally inflicting any injuries on the babies. Investigators say Wyble provided several non-intentional scenarios of how the victims may have sustained their injuries. Wyble stated that some of the injuries could have been made during the course of changing their diapers and for the fractured ribs; Wyble stated one of the victims had experienced abdominal cramps and she would soothe the child by rubbing the abdominal area. Detectives continued their investigation and released Wyble.
She was later asked to return to the office for an additional interview, and she stated she would not be returning until she hired an attorney, according to Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux, spokesman for the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.
During the investigation, an additional complainant entered the office and stated Wyble was her six-month-old daughter’s caregiver but was removed from her care due to unexplained bruising to her facial area. Investigators say the six-month-old child was under her care August 2018 to October 2018. Photographs were submitted and it showed the same injuries the other children had, according to the spokesman. When brought to Wyble’s attention by the parent she allegedly had no explanation. The parent did not want to pursue criminal charges against Wyble but wanted to voice her concern for the safety and well being of other children still in Wyble’s care, according to Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.
Detectives were able to determine that Wyble was the only adult that had direct supervision of all the victims, stated Thibodeaux. This along with other key evidence led detectives to arrest Wyble and charge her with felony cruelty to juveniles.
Bond was set at $20,000.
