Background: The neighborhood in Wilmington, N.C. where Marion L. Hoffman III and Brittany Marie Zito live with their baby (Google Maps). Insets (left to right): Marion L. Hoffman III and Brittany Marie Zito (New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office).
A North Carolina couple are behind bars after police said that they caused serious injuries to their 2-month-old baby.
Marion L. Hoffman III, 27, and his girlfriend, Brittany Marie Zito, 24, were arrested on Tuesday following an investigation that began when they brought their 2-month-old baby to the emergency room in July.
The baby was found to have several broken bones including a skull fracture and a broken femur, according to arresting papers reviewed by Law&Crime. Police said Hoffman and Zito were responsible for inflicting the injuries, and both parents were placed under arrest.
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Hoffman and Zito brought their baby to the hospital on July 3, local NBC affiliate WECT. According to the arrest warrants for both parents, the baby was found to have a skull fracture, a broken right femur, and five broken ribs.
Detectives from the Wilmington Police Department worked alongside the Department of Social Services for their investigation, which resulted in arrest warrants for the baby’s parents, the TV station reported.
Hoffman and Zito made their first court appearance on Wednesday and are being held at the New Hanover County Jail on $300,000 bond on felony charges of intentional child abuse with serious physical injury and negligent child abuse with serious physical injury.
They are both scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 4. The whereabouts and condition of the baby are not clear.
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