BCSO deputies were summoned on Thursday to SkyRidge Medical Center after the grandmother of 22-month-old Caleb Walden brought him to the ER for treatment after she discovered him to have serious injuries at the home of the child’s mother, Kimberly Renee Walden, 377 Lyles Road, Cleveland, Tn.
The child’s injuries included a concussion, broken arm requiring surgery at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital, and severe swelling, bruising and battering over many areas of the body, especially the head and face areas.
Investigators quickly zeroed in on the live-in boyfriend of the mother, Steven Brent Lee, 30, as the primary suspect in this case. At approximately 7:30 p.m., Sheriff Tim Gobble, accompanied by a BCSO deputy and two Cleveland police officers, located Lee and took him into investigative custody at his place of employment on Urbane Road.
The child’s mother was also located, placed into investigative custody and transported to the BCSO Criminal Investigations Division.
The BCSO criminal investigation proceeded through the evening with Child Protective Services working closely with BCSO investigators. Interviews were conducted, locations searched and evidence documented.
It was determined the child has been suffering abuse for several weeks with the most serious injuries being inflicted some days ago.
As a result of this investigation, Steven Brent Lee was charged with violation of T.C.A. Section 39-15-402, aggravated child abuse, a Class A felony.
The child’s mother, Kimberly Renee Walden, 21, was charged with violation of T.C.A. Section 39-13-102, aggravated assault, Sub-section (B) for being the parent of the child and intentionally and knowingly failing or refusing to protect such child from aggravated child abuse, a Class C Felony.
Sheriff Gobble said, “The level of abuse against this child shocks the conscience. This is one of the worst cases of child abuse and neglect occurring in this area for sometime. Innocent children deserve the protection of the community and I want to commend the child’s grandmother for intervening and getting help for this child."
“I also want to thank SkyRidge Medical Center and T.C. Thompson’s Children’s Hospital for their quick and compassionate care of this child and for their cooperation in this investigation. I thank the responding BCSO deputies, city police officers, Child Protective Services and the District Attorney’s Office for their professionalism, quick response and cooperative effort to locate, arrest and prosecute those responsible for such horrendous acts of child abuse and neglect.”