July 19, 2017 - Two individuals arrested on child abuse charges in June have been re-arrested following a hearing to determine the custody of the child involved.
Matthew McMahon, 29, and Randa Askew Faust McMahon, 36, both of Shelbyville were arrested in the Shelby County Courthouse by Joey Haley, District Attorney Investigator, and they were transported to the Shelby County Jail for charges of endangering a child, state jail felony.
According to the arrest affidavit attributed to Shelby County Sheriff's Department Investigator Chad Brown relating to each, the McMahons are alleged to have engaged in conduct that placed a child, who is under 15 years of age, in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment by allowing the child's potassium, protein, and albumin levels to all fall to very low levels. At least the potassium level was reduced to a dangerously low, life-threatening level.
These effects are all alleged to be due to "chronic nutritional deficiency" while under the McMahon's custody and care, and that they did not seek any medical attention for that condition.
The affidavit further explains, the child was removed from the custody of the McMahons on June 1, 2017 and on June 5, 2017 the child was admitted to Nacogdoches Medical Center for various medical problems stemming from injuries the child had on his right buttock and right arm. It was immediately determined at the hospital, the child suffered from hypoalbuminemia and hypoproeinemia from "chronic nutrition deficiency."
Blood work done on the child at that time indicated his potassium level was "2.8." The doctor who was treating the child immediately ordered and started I.V. fluids with potassium added to it. The decision was made that due to the acute hypokalemia (low level potassium), the child required a higher level of care than was available at Nacogdoches Medical Center and he was to be (and subsequently was) transferred to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas.
The child custody case which the McMahons had been attending ruled for the child to remain at this time in the custody of the intervenor with whom he was originally placed.
Each of the McMahons are being held once again in the Shelby County Jail on pre set $200,000 bonds.
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