Amy Ellene Roberts will spend a year in jail for charges of child abuse that left her daughter burned on the face, eyes and hands with cuts, bruises and fractured bones. Derrick Lee Crispin faces will face sentencing November 3, 2008.

In Salt Lake City, Amy Ellene Roberts, 30 year-old was sentenced to one year in jail and three years probation for a second-degree felony charge of child abuse and a third-degree charge of obstruction of justice.  

Derrick Lee Crispin, 30 year-old was arrested with Roberts in January, 2008. The charges stem from the severe abuse inflicted on Roberts’s three-year-old daughter. The investigation shows that the toddler’s face, eyes and hands were burned. The child may lose or suffer impaired vision from the injuries. The child was also noted to have cuts, bruises and fractured bones. Patches of the child’s hair were missing. The father of the toddler has custody now.  

Some adults and their infants and children are more at risk for abusive events such as SBS.  Infants at risk include infants less than one year age, male infants, infants of twin or multiple births, premature infants, infants with health problems and infants that have inconsolable crying spells. Adults at risk for committing abusive acts include adults with poor coping skills, unrealistic expectations, substance abuse, former victims of abuse and adults with mental health problems. Environmental factors that usually culminate in abusive events include social isolation, dysfunctional family characteristics and socio-economic burdens. However, SBS may occur in any setting and it is important to know the signs and symptoms that may be present in an infant or child that may be a victim of SBS.