Couple Charged With Child Abuse

Louisville Metro Police arrested two people Thursday for what they call a “significant child abuse case.”

An exam revealed the children suffered skull fractures, missing teeth, severe anemia from loss of blood, along with several other injuries.

Nicholas Shanks, 27, and Shelby Kuntz, 25, are both being held on half a million-dollar bonds.

Investigators believe the two have been abusing their children based on injuries reported by doctors.

The investigation started after a child around two years old went into full cardiac arrest at UofL hospital. Doctors resuscitated the child and took them to Norton Children’s Hospital.

A further examination showed the child had a skull fracture, several missing teeth, healing rib fractures, extensive bruising and severe anemia from loss of blood.

The child was also extremely underweight, showed signs of muscle, liver, and pancreas damage. This discovery prompted detectives with special victims unit and Child Protective Services to check on other children at the home.

They found a child around one year old with what they say were “obvious signs of trauma.”

Norton Children’s Hospital reported that the second child related to this case had several similar injuries, including three possible skull fractures, a possible jawbone fracture, cuts above both eyes, and nose trauma.

According to the arrest citation, the parents told detectives they are the only ones who had been near the children.

Shanks and Kuntz are being charged with assault, first-degree domestic violence, criminal abuse for a child 12 or under, wanton endangerment and endangering the welfare of a minor.

In addition to child abuse allegations, Shanks is also facing drug-related charges.

Louisville Metro Police found a loose crystal-like substance in his pants.

Shanks claimed it was rock salt for roads, but Louisville Metro Department of Corrections’s certified Narcotics K9 detected something else.

Louisville Metro Police took the substance to be tested.

If Shanks or Kuntz post their bond, they will be on home incarceration. They are also ordered not have contact with their children or any minors and cannot contact each other.

Shanks and Kuntz have their next court appearances on January 26.
Source: WAVE