Two South Bend people arrested for neglect of 8-month old

A detective with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department has been investigating a case of child neglect that stems from an incident on May 16.

Two adults from South Bend are currently being held in the Marshall County Jail on $10,000 cash bonds.   

On May 16, Sergeant Bragg with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department contacted Lieutenant Detective Les McFarland and explained that an 8-month-old child had been taken into St. Joseph Regional Hospital in Plymouth for injuries that were allegedly obtained from a fall.

Sergeant Bragg advised that Child Protective Services had also been notified and were coming to the hospital.

The child had various marks and bruises on different parts of her body. The infant had a large hematoma on the left side of her forehead that appeared to be fresh. The child also had bruises on her cheek and face, cheek, ear, and red marks on her back. The tending physician completed a skeletal survey in the emergency room and found a healing rib fracture.

The child was placed in an alternate caregiver home, and the Marshall County Sheriff's Detective Bureau started a criminal investigation.

A case report was completed and forwarded to the Marshall County Prosecutor's Office for review. On Friday, the Marshall County Prosecutor's Office filed formal criminal charges for heglect of a dependent as a Level 5 felony on Julia Harrison Gibbs, 21, and Andrew Paluzzi, 21 both with addresses of Diamond Avenue in South Bend.

Lt. McFarland traveled to South Bend last Friday and, with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department, located both suspects. Paluzzi and Harrison-Gibbs were arrested, transported to the Marshall County Jail, booked on a felony charge of neglect of a dependent, and held on $10,000 cash bonds. 

Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.