A Colorado couple was arrested on Christmas Day after allegedly leaving their newborn child on the median of a busy Denver road, dressed only in a diaper and strapped into a car seat.
Jarvis Sims, 42, and Christina Thurman, 33, were both charged with felony child abuse after the shocking incident. Deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call at approximately 9:30 a.m. about an unattended infant on the road’s median, reported by CBS News.
When authorities arrived, they found the baby alone in a car seat labeled with a sign that read, “Display only. Not intended for sale.” The child was wearing only a diaper, and the 911 caller stayed nearby to ensure the infant’s safety until police arrived.
Deputies searched the area for surveillance footage or witnesses who could help identify the person responsible for abandoning the baby. Before the parents were identified, the sheriff’s office posted photos of the car seat on Facebook, hoping the public could provide information. “We are hoping someone recognizes the car seat or knows something about the baby or family so he can be united with his loved ones and the person who abandoned him can be brought to justice,” they said in a release.
Later that afternoon, the sheriff’s office announced they had made contact with the infant’s family and would pursue charges if appropriate. By 9 p.m., the department confirmed both parents had been arrested.
Investigators revealed that Sims and Thurman had argued about Thurman’s alcohol use before the incident. During the argument, Sims placed the baby on the median. Thurman reportedly called her stepfather for a ride instead of retrieving her son.
The baby was taken to Children’s Hospital Colorado as a precaution, and authorities confirmed the child had no injuries.
During a court hearing on Friday, Adams County Judge Jacque Lyn Russell told Thurman she posed “both physical and emotional danger” to her son. Thurman and Sims are both being held on $50,000 bond and are scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
The sheriff’s office thanked the community for spreading the word and assisting with the investigation. Meanwhile, questions remain about how the situation escalated to such a tragic level during the holiday season.