A 31-year-old man named Austin Hendrick has been charged with child abuse without injury after a 15-month-old baby under his care was discovered in a ditch with bite marks. The incident occurred on October 4, 2025, when a concerned citizen notified the police about the child’s presence in a ditch alongside the road. Upon arrival, law enforcement found the child in good health but with insect bites, a full diaper, and a rash. The baby was taken to a nearby hospital for assessment.
Shortly after, another witness reported to the police that Hendrick had contacted them claiming to be searching for a missing child he had been babysitting. When questioned, Hendrick stated that he suspected someone had taken the child from his residence, which was about a mile and a half away from where she was discovered. He mentioned that he had briefly left to feed his dogs, returning to find the front door open and the child missing.
The incident unfolded on South Marian Road in rural Adams County just outside Hastings, a city approximately 110 miles southwest of Lincoln, US. Authorities have withheld specific details about the child involved to protect their privacy.
This development comes in the wake of a disturbing case where a couple, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz, were found guilty of subjecting their adopted children to severe mistreatment. The children were confined to their rooms, forced to sleep on concrete floors, and made to stand for extended periods with their hands raised. Whitefeather was sentenced to a maximum of 215 years in prison, while Lantz received a sentence of up to 60 years following their conviction for offenses including forced labor, human trafficking, and child abuse.
In addition, Whitefeather was found guilty of civil rights violations based on race. The judge, Maryclaire Akers, rebuked the couple during sentencing, highlighting their attempts to shift blame onto their real estate agent for not finding a more isolated property. The judge condemned their actions, stating, “You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know as ‘Almost Heaven,’ and you put them in hell. This court will now put you in yours.”
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