ST. LUCIE COUNTY − A second arrest has been made following an investigation into “severe injuries” reportedly sustained by a 3-month old, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
Danielle Auro, 27, of Port St. Lucie, was booked in July 29 at the St. Lucie County Jail on two child neglect charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
Auro’s arrest comes after the arrest July 18 of James Longendyck, 33, on a felony aggravated child abuse charge, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff’s officials began investigating March 29 when staff with HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital in Port St. Lucie “identified multiple injuries on a 3-month-old infant, including both recent and healing fractures,” the sheriff’s office stated.
A radiologist told investigators that “based on the images he observed … he believes this is ‘child abuse all the way,’” records state.
The child ultimately was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach to get more specialized treatment.
At the hospital in Port St. Lucie, investigators learned the infant had broken and healed ribs, a fractured and healed left tibia (shin bone) and a torsion break in the right humerus (upper arm bone).
A doctor reported the arm injury was no more than one to two days old and the break would require “a lot of force” to cause, an affidavit states. A cast was placed on the arm to help heal the “acute fracture.”
A doctor reported “the injuries were highly suspicious for non accidental trauma, identifying intentional infliction of an injury to the victim,” records state.
Longendyck told investigators he put the infant in his swing, securing the safety straps, and left the infant there for about 10 minutes while he went to do dishes and tend to another person.
While tending to the other person, he heard the infant screaming, and stated he was “tilted” to the side. Longendyck picked him up and said he typically holds both arms out when picked up. During this incident, however, one arm was up and the other was down.
Longendyck said a few days earlier, the infant fell from the couch to the floor.
He said he didn’t know anything about the leg injury or those to the infant’s ribs.
Longendyck did say there was a time he got frustrated. He said it was possible he picked up the infant and didn’t know how hard he squeezed him.
One person told investigators when Longendyck “is overwhelmed, he can yell, punch walls, and can be hot-headed.”
Sheriff’s officials reported Longendyck said he used Delta-8, which can have psychoactive effects. Investigators reported finding evidence he took OxyContin, a prescription painkiller, and used Delta-8 while taking care of a child.
A neighbor told investigators Longendyck told him he was picking up the infant when he dropped him. The neighbor said Longendyck indicated he “broke the victim’s arm.”
Another person described Longendyck to investigators as “a loose cannon and would get angry for the smallest things,” records show.
Auro was released July 30 from the St. Lucie County Jail on $15,000 bond, while Longendyck was released July 23 on $50,000 bond, a jail official said.
(This story was updated with new information.)
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Man, woman jailed; ‘child abuse all the way’ in St. Lucie County
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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