Paragould, Ark. (KAIT) — A Paragould couple has been taken into custody following the emergency surgery of their two-year-old child, who was found to have suffered from a “repeated pattern” of physical abuse.
Greene County District Court Judge Daniel Stidham found probable cause to charge 24-year-old Adrian M. Driver with first-degree domestic battery, and 21-year-old Autumn B. Bateman with permitting the abuse of a minor. The investigation was initiated after the child was admitted to the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center (AMMC) ER on March 15 with a bruised right ear.
Three days after the initial visit, Bateman reportedly agreed to have cameras installed in her home as part of a safety plan created by the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). Driver agreed to move out of the residence, and he was prohibited from being with the child unsupervised, according to court documents.
However, the child was again brought to the hospital on April 6, this time with multiple medical issues. Detective Sergeant Jacob Higdon explained that the child was later transferred to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent emergency surgery. The hospital’s CARES Team raised concerns about medical neglect and abusive head trauma, along with evidence of a repeated pattern of child physical abuse. Some of the injuries appeared to be weeks old, while others were more recent, reportedly occurring around April 4.
During an interview on April 10, Bateman admitted to leaving the child unsupervised with Adrian Driver on multiple occasions, despite the established safety plan. Driver, during a Mirandaized interview on April 28, allegedly made incriminating statements regarding the injuries sustained by the child.
Both Driver and Bateman are being held in the Greene County Detention Center without bond while they await their next court appearance. It was noted that Driver had pleaded guilty to permitting child abuse in 2024, which adds further gravity to the charges he now faces.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, with the safety and well-being of the child as their primary focus.
