Midway, AR – The tragic death of a baby boy in Arkansas has led to serious murder charges against a 29-year-old woman who was caring for him. Tessa Jonell Thompson was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after the infant died from a brain bleed, which police say resulted from violent abuse.
According to court documents and police reports, Thompson had taken in the baby and his 2-year-old sister because their biological mother did not have a stable home.
The Shocking Circumstances Behind the Baby’s Death
On August 29, emergency dispatchers received a call about a baby who was “barely breathing” at Thompson’s home in Midway, a city roughly 150 miles north of Little Rock. The infant was rushed to Baxter Regional Medical Center in nearby Mountain Home, where hospital staff immediately noticed a troubling sign: the baby had obvious bruising on the right side of his face, which appeared to have been covered up with makeup.
The baby was then diagnosed with a brain bleed and transferred to a children’s hospital in Little Rock. Despite medical efforts, the infant was pronounced dead on August 30 after spending a day on life support, according to the reports.
Abuse Admission and Attempts to Hide Injuries
During police interviews, Thompson admitted she had been caring for the children for about a week and a half. The children living in her home also included her 5-year-old daughter and her mother. However, the investigation revealed more disturbing details:
- The baby suffered injuries not consistent with Thompson’s initial claims; she said she “pushed the infant down” causing him to hit the back of his head, but bruises were on the front of his face.
- Thompson confessed to striking the baby “hard with an open palm” earlier the same day.
- She admitted to attempting to conceal the bruises with makeup, delaying the recognition of the infant’s severe injuries.
“After waiting 10-15 minutes, Thompson said she put makeup on the child to try to cover the injury,” the affidavit states, highlighting the disturbing efforts to mask physical abuse.
Additional Concerns: Abuse of the Toddler Sister
Police reported that when Thompson’s mother arrived at the sheriff’s office with the two children, the 2-year-old sister showed a large bruise on her cheek, suspected to have been caused by a hand, fist, or object. Thompson admitted she struck the toddler in the face because she was upset that the child was crying.
Following the arrest of Thompson, the infant’s sister was placed in the custody of a friend of their biological mother, while Thompson’s own daughter was taken into protective custody by the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
Legal Charges and Ongoing Investigation
Tessa Jonell Thompson faces multiple serious charges including:
- Second-degree murder
- First-degree domestic battery causing serious injury
- Second-degree domestic battery
She is currently held at the Baxter County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Authorities continue to investigate further details as the case unfolds.
Community Impact and Call for Awareness
This heartbreaking case has brought attention to the vulnerability of children in unstable living situations and the critical need for vigilance and intervention in suspected abuse cases. The efforts to conceal bruises, combined with admissions of physical violence, underscore the importance of timely medical and social services involvement.
What do you think about this tragic case? How can communities better protect children from abuse and neglect? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
