A Kentucky man has been charged with murder after an 18-month-old girl he was watching suffered severe injuries and later died. Terrance Corbin, 20, was caring for the toddler and her 3-year-old sibling on Jan. 7 in Elizabethtown, Ky., with no other adults present.
According to police, Corbin contacted the children’s mother around 4 p.m., saying the younger child was breathing abnormally. Minutes later, he reportedly called 911 to report that the toddler had stopped breathing.
“Our officers arrived, immediately recognized the child’s condition to be critical, and transported her to [the hospital],” said Elizabethtown police public affairs officer Chris Denham in a statement. The child was subsequently airlifted to Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville.
Medical evaluations revealed the girl had suffered “substantial swelling and bleeding” on her scalp and face, skull fractures, and internal hemorrhaging. Tragically, the toddler succumbed to her injuries.
“A pediatrician who specializes in child abuse noted the child’s skull fractures were the worst they had encountered during their time practicing medicine,” Denham said. Corbin was arrested and charged with murder. Authorities have not disclosed his relationship to the children’s mother or the family.
In an interview with WDRB, Denham described the crime as incomprehensible. “How could you do that to a baby?” he asked. “I’m not sure.” The incident has shocked the Elizabethtown community, with police labeling it a “heinous, despicable, disgusting crime.”
It remains unclear if Corbin has entered a plea or secured legal representation. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to provide answers for the grieving family. The tragic death has also drawn attention to child abuse awareness and prevention.
Community members are calling for justice and mourning the loss of a life taken far too soon. As the legal process unfolds, police and child advocates urge vigilance in ensuring children’s safety and protecting them from harm.