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OREM — Criminal charges were filed Wednesday against a Lehi mother accusing her of abusing her 3-year-old son.
Jillian Michelle Wardle, 31, is charged in 4th District Court with aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony.
On Nov. 13, Wardle called 911 claiming that her son had fallen down a flight of stairs two days earlier in Orem and was suffering a seizure, according to court documents, The child was taken to Utah Valley Hospital and then transferred to Primary Children's Hospital. It was there that doctors raised concerns about the boy's injuries.
The boy's injuries included a retinal hemorrhage, multiple subdural hematomas on the brain and rib fractures, according to charging documents.
"Some of that bruising was on the insides of the thighs, which would be unusual in a fall," the charges state. "The doctors concluded that the extent of the injuries to the cranium cannot be explained by a fall down the stairs. In the medical reports, they conclude that the victims injuries are inflicted trauma."
When questioned by police about what happened, officers noted that Wardle was "inconsistent" with her story, the charging documents allege.
When Wardle's other two children were interviewed, both said that a man their mother was dating "had talked to them about the victim's fall" and noted that the man stated he "had caught the victim," the charges state. But when police asked follow-up questions, one of the children said, "I forgot the words."
As of Wednesday, no charges had been filed against the boyfriend.
