LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville father and his girlfriend have been charged after a 2-month-old boy sustained a near-fatal brain injury, prompting an investigation into possible abuse.
Cortez Holloway, 34, and his girlfriend Alea Madden, 19, were arrested and charged with complicity to assault and criminal abuse of a child under 12. The charges come after the infant was found unresponsive at a home on Dresden Avenue, in the Wyandotte neighborhood, on Monday afternoon.
According to court documents, Madden told investigators that she had put the baby to bed on Sunday night. She reported that the child was behaving normally at the time. However, she later heard the baby screaming and then going silent. Madden said Holloway, who was also at the home, told the infant to “shut up bro” during the incident.
Holloway, in his account to police, stated that the baby seemed fine when he left the house the following morning. However, Madden later noticed that the baby’s condition was rapidly deteriorating. She described the infant as “cold and shaking” and said he was unresponsive, with dilated and fixed pupils. In an attempt to warm him, she used a space heater before calling 911 around 3 p.m.
Emergency responders transported the child to Norton Children’s Hospital, where doctors confirmed the infant was in critical condition. Medical staff noted several concerning injuries, including brain bleeds, hemorrhaging in both eyes, fractures in the arm and legs, and significant bruising to the head. Doctors indicated that the injuries were consistent with abusive head trauma.
As of now, the infant remains on a ventilator and is receiving treatment for his injuries. A pediatric protection specialist determined that the severity of the brain injury suggested the child had been intentionally harmed.
Both Holloway and Madden appeared in court on Thursday, where they each pleaded not guilty to the charges. Madden’s bond was set at $50,000, while Holloway’s bond was set at $100,000. The couple is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 2.
The case has drawn attention from local authorities, with child protection specialists closely monitoring the infant’s condition. The investigation is ongoing, and both Holloway and Madden face serious charges as they await further proceedings in the court system.
