LAKEWOOD, Colo. — A woman was arrested on suspicion of child abuse involving a 2-year-old who was seriously injured in September, Lakewood Police said.
McKinley Slone Hernandez, 25, was taken into custody on suspicion of child abuse - cruelty toward a child on Thursday after a warrant was issued for her arrest on Wednesday.
Hernandez, who is being held on a $100,000 cash bond, is not related to the child, police said.
“You never would think it would happen to you, especially by someone who you consider a friend," said the boy's mother, Stefanie Reichert.
Reichert said her son, Giovanni, had to have part of his skull removed because of bleeding on the brain. Giovanni's family has spent weeks in the hospital and are now back at Children's Hospital for another surgery.
Reichert said she worries about the lifelong impact of injuries on her son as they anticipate a long road to recovery.
"He doesn't like strangers, she said. "Now he doesn't like the nurses and the doctors. He doesn't let anybody touch him. We have to do everything for them in there."
The family started a GoFundMe to raise funds that will go towards the child's treatment.
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