RUSSELL SPRINGS, Ky. (TCD) — Two people are in custody after allegedly lying to law enforcement officials and telling them their baby had been mauled by a stray dog.
On March 15, the Kentucky State Police received a report of suspected child abuse. A trooper spoke with an individual and learned a 10-month-old child was brought to the Russell County Hospital on March 12 before being airlifted to University of Kentucky Hospital for critical injuries. According to an arrest citation obtained by WKYT-TV, the child sustained multiple skull fractures and brain injuries.
The child’s mother, 27-year-old Emily McKinney, and her boyfriend, 30-year-old Joe Johnson, reportedly told investigators the victim was playing in the yard when an unknown stray dog attacked her. However, when searching the area, Russell County first responders were unable to find the canine in question, police said.
On March 15, troopers responded to a home on Bluebird Drive and spoke with McKinney and Johnson. According to state police, troopers determined the dog that had attacked the baby belonged to McKinney and her boyfriend. Following the incident, Johnson reportedly “concealed the location of the couple’s dog,” causing “local first responders to use resources searching for a stray dog that did not exist.”
Police arrested McKinney and Johnson, and they were booked into the Russell County Detention Center.
McKinney faces charges of first-degree criminal abuse –– child 12 or under, endangering the welfare of a minor, and false report which generated an emergency response.
Johnson was charged with tampering with physical evidence and false report which generated an emergency response.
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