Staff report
TERRE HAUTE — A Terre Haute father goes to court today accused of battering his 10-month-old daughter.
Fernando Gutierrez, 20, of 420 S. Fifth St., was arrested by Terre Haute City Police on Friday afternoon after he and his wife, Dawn Day Gutierrez, 20, took their 10-month-old baby to Terre Haute Regional Hospital for treatment, according to Sgt. Pete Holvey of the department.
The baby had been severely burned on the inside of her lower left leg, had a broken arm and had been bitten on the shoulder, Holvey said, adding “old fractures” that had gone untreated were also found during the examination.
The injuries for which the girl was brought in had occurred about seven days prior to her arrival at the hospital, he said.
“They knew the baby needed treatment,” Holvey said, adding, “they were afraid they were going to get in trouble.”
The baby was transported to the Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis where staff said evidence pointed to the baby having been strangled at one point, he said.
In what Holvey said is an “ongoing investigation,” Gutierrez allegedly admitted to burning the baby on the leg, placing his hands around her throat, and biting her shoulder at different points in time, but wasn’t sure how the arm had been broken or about past fractures.
Holvey said the mother has led police to believe Gutierrez is an illegal alien, but as the two are married, police were unsure of his status Tuesday.
Gutierrez is reportedly employed by Kirham Hardwoods and the mother is unemployed, Holvey said.
Gutierrez remained in the Vigo County Jail on Tuesday evening without bail on allegations of domestic battery, neglect of a dependent and two counts of aggravated battery.
He appears in Division 6 of Vigo County Superior Court this afternoon.
