Caretaker charged with wounding toddler

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Portsmouth Police have charged a 22-year-old caretaker with aggravated malicious wounding after a toddler was injured Monday.

Jan Clark with the Portsmouth Police Department said officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Crawford Parkway around 8:30 p.m. for a report of an unresponsive 3-year-old girl. On scene, investigators found the child not breathing and she was transported to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.

According to Clark, the toddler was hospitalized in critical condition and suffered from trauma to her body.

During the initial call, the toddler was reported to have fallen. Further investigation revealed the girl’s injuries were not consistent with the claim, Clark said. A woman with the toddler at the time of the call, identified as Kerneisha Adolphus, was arrested and charged with aggravated malicious wounding.

Adolphus and another unidentified man have been caretakers since December 2012 and are not related to the child. Clark said the man was also with the girl at the time of the 911 call.

At this time, the girl’s biological mother is on her way to Portsmouth after being out of state. The toddler remains in critical condition at CHKD.

Portsmouth Police, Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) and Child Protective Services are investigating the incident.