Columbus infant remains on life support, mother in court
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The mother of a 9-month-old infant who suffered life-threatening injuries faced a Franklin County judge Friday morning.
According to court documents, Billie Jo Tustin was issued a $1 million bond in municipal court on charges of felonious assault. Tustin has also been ordered to stay away from the Italian Village home where the alleged assault occurred, and must comply with a protection order granted and served against her.
Tustin, 29, was arrested Wednesday evening after Columbus Fire medics were called to the 900 block of North 4th Street where a 9-month-old boy was found unresponsive and taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital just after 5 p.m.
The Columbus Division of Police was contacted at around 6:30 p.m. by the hospital about the infant, who had reportedly sustained injuries believed to be caused by foul play. The boy was listed in critical condition with traumatic injuries, and court documents said he is only being kept alive due to life support.
Police arrested Tustin Thursday morning and charged with felonious assault. Another toddler was present at the home when police arrived, but they were unharmed.
Tustin admitted to detectives that she threw the child 15 feet across a room and that his head landed on the floor, according to court documents. She also admitted to detectives to throwing him shorter distances as well as spanking and slapping him in the face when she became “frustrated.”
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 26. For a previous report on this story view the video player above.
A representative from the Franklin County Children’s Services responded to NBC4’s request for comment with the following statement:
“The team at Franklin County Children Services is closely monitoring the condition of this nine-month-old baby boy. This alleged abuse by his mother is appalling and heartbreaking. Our agency has been connected to his mother Billie Jo Tustin, who had been seeking to end our involvement with her family related to custody of her three-year-old daughter. We will be pushing for the court to deny that. This little girl is now in the safe care of our agency, and we will seek the same of this baby boy. And we will work with police and prosecutors as they hold accountable a parent who allegedly chose to harm their defenseless child.”