Child Abuse case bound over to District Court

Blue Hill residents Wilbur "Jake" Cox (27) and his wife Jessica Wahl Cox (26) were bound over to district court by Webster County Judge Michael Offner on felony charges of child abuse at a joint preliminary hearing in Red Cloud February 26th despite arguments against such action by their defense attorney Michael Mead. The Cox's infant daughter Alara Cox, was life flighted to Omaha's Children's Hospital on January 28th after she was taken to Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings when she began spitting up blood. Alara Cox was born November 26, 2009. The baby was found to have injuries, broken bones, concussion, and bruises as well as injuries to the back of her throat that medical doctors found consistent with child abuse. Jessica Cox told Webster Co. Sheriff''s deputy Ron Sunday who investigated the case that she and the child's father had fought over the child three weeks before taking the baby to the hospital. During the struggle she wrenched the baby from Jake. She admitted hitting Jake but said she never hurt the baby. Cox said the injury to the back of the baby's throat must have happened when they were using a bulb syringe to remove phlegm Deputy Sunday said the child is now in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Human Services. Jake Cox has two children by a previous marriage. Child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury is a class 3 felony punishable by 20 years imprisonment and $25,000 in fines.