Police may have located mother of tortured toddler

Pierce County sheriff's detectives are interviewing a woman they believe may be the mother of a 22-month-old toddler who was dropped off at a hospital showing signs of having been tortured and abused.

"We think we are talking to her right now at a police station," Sheriff's Department spokesman Ed Troyer said this morning. "Her family drug her in."

The boy was taken to the hospital on Sunday by a woman who told deputies that a stranger had dropped the toddler and a diaper bag off at her house along with a dire warning: Take the boy, or I'll kill him.

When she took him to a hospital, medical staff found evidence of serious child abuse, and estimated the boy's age at about 22 months, said Troyer. They believe the boy's name is Javon, or something similar, he said.

The child is expected to survive his injuries and has been taken into protective custody by Child Protective Services, according to CPS spokesman Thomas Shapley.

Shapley said a social worker is working with police and that the child will not be returned to an unsafe home.

According to police, the woman who dropped the boy off originally said she'd never seen the boy before, and doesn't know his parents. But Troyer said detectives didn't believe they were getting "the full story" from the woman.

Detectives have heard "conflicting stories" about the boy's parents and caregivers, he said.

"With the injuries on the baby, we're guessing the people caring for the baby aren't willing to stand up and claim responsibility for him," said Troyer. "There are obviously injuries that a kid could not get on their own."

The name of the hospital was not disclosed for security reasons, Troyer said, and the nature of the injuries was withheld for investigative purposes.

The diaper bag left with the woman included age-appropriate baby clothes, suggesting he'd been cared for.

Shapley said that depending on the outcome of the investigation, CPS could request a court order seeking custody and transferring him to foster care, Shapley said.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com