Douglas County Woman Charged With Felony Child Abuse Of Boyfriend's Child:

Baby Karson

A twenty two year-old woman from Ava has been charged with felony child abuse for allegedly shaking her boyfriends 18 month-old son so violently that boy had to be hospitalized.

Douglas County authorities were called to Cox South hospital after a nurse hotlined a call to law enforcers about two other children in the home after little Karson was airlifted there on April 20th.

Prosecutors say Britni Leigh Tyra shook the little boy so violently that she caused "extensive bruising from behind both ears, extending to the eyes and cheeks."

Britni Leigh Tyra is charged with felony child abuse

Douglas County Deputy Vernon Johnson writes in the probable cause statement, that the left side of the boy's head looked "considerably" worse than the right side. Johnson also noted that the toddlers right eye was "swollen shut."  The bruising and swelling initially led me to believe (the boy) had been repeatedly beaten about the head and face."

A doctor who treated the boy "stated he had diagnosed (the boy's) injuries were from his scalp tearing away from his skull. I asked him how this could have happened and he stated it was consistent with someone grabbing (the boy) by the ears and shaking him," according to court documents.  The doctor "stated this was blood pooling from hemorrhaging along the tears."

When Tyra was interviewed on by authorities on April 20th she told investigators that she had no idea how the little boy ended up with the injuries.

She is being held in the Douglas County jail on $50,000 bond.  Prosecutors are asking that her bond be increased and are considering filing additional charges against Tyra.

A friend of baby Karson's mother says the little boy did not suffer any internal injuries and initial reports are that his eyesight was not affected.  She has started a Justice for Karson facebook page.


UPDATE 01-21-12:

Douglas County Woman Admits To Assaulting Boyfriend's Toddler Son:

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Baby Karson is doing well

A Douglas County woman who was charged last April with abusing her boyfriend's little boy while she was babysat him last April has entered an Alford plea.

Prosecutor's say Britini Leigh Tyra, 23, of Ava, shook baby Karson so violently that he had to be hospitalized and suffered extensive bruising from behind both ears that extended to the eyes and cheeks.

Britni Leigh Tyra will be sentenced in February

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Douglas County Deputy Vernon Johnson wrote in the probable cause statement, that the left side of the boy's head looked "considerably" worse than the right side. Johnson also noted that the toddlers right eye was "swollen shut. The bruising and swelling initially led me to believe (the boy) had been repeatedly beaten about the head and face."

A doctor said little Karson's scalp was torn away from his skull in the assault and was consistent with someone grabbing him by the ears and shaking him. The doctor said the bruising on the toddlers face "was blood pooling from hemorrhaging along the tears."

When Tyra was interviewed by authorities she told investigators she had no idea how the little boy ended up with the injuries.

The little boy did not suffer any internal injuries in the attack and reports are that his eyesight was not affected. Friends of baby Karson's mom started a justice for Karson facebook page.
Tyra is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24th in Douglas County.


****An Alford plea is where a defendant does not admit guilty but acknowledges that prosecutor's probably have enough evidence to secure a conviction if the case were to proceed to trial.