Chapter 6 - The Medical Findings and CPS Involvement
The full medical report from Riley Children’s Hospital arrived three days later, delivered directly to my temporary custody file by Child Protective Services caseworker Marcus Vance.
I sat at my kitchen table in the quiet suburbs outside Indianapolis, reviewing the paperwork with my reading glasses perched on the bridge of my nose. Ethan was sleeping peacefully in a portable bassinet beside me, swaddled in soft cotton blankets, breathing evenly.
Caseworker Vance, a kind-faced man with silver hair and a warm demeanor, sat across from me, holding a cup of black coffee.
“Mrs. Russell, the comprehensive skeletal survey and cranial scans came back,” Vance said gently.
My breath caught. “Were there... older injuries?”
“There were hairline fractures on his left rib cage, healing from approximately three weeks ago,” Vance stated softly. “It confirms that the abuse wasn't an isolated incident. It was systematic, occurring over a prolonged period while both parents were under the same roof.”
I closed my eyes, fighting back a fresh wave of grief and anger. Three weeks of suffering. Three weeks while Sarah put on a smile for visitors and Daniel looked the other way.
“What happens to custody now?” I asked, opening my eyes to look the caseworker dead in the eye.
“Sarah is being held without bond at the Marion County Jail awaiting trial on felony charges of aggravated child abuse and domestic battery. Her defense counsel is attempting an insanity plea based on severe postpartum psychosis,” Vance explained. “Daniel was released on a restricted bond pending trial for felony child neglect and failure to protect a minor. He has a mandatory no-contact order prohibiting him from seeing Ethan without supervised therapeutic intervention.”
Vance slid a legal document across the table toward me.
“As for Ethan, the state recognizes that you intervened immediately and saved this child’s life. Temporary emergency guardianship has been officially granted to you, Mrs. Russell, effective immediately.”
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I looked down at the legal document granting me custody of my precious grandson. A profound wave of relief washed over me, mingled with the sober realization of the enormous responsibility ahead.
“He will never know fear in this house,” I vowed, placing my hand gently on Ethan’s tiny, sleeping foot. “He will only know love.”
