Neb. mother’s boyfriend arrested after her 22-month-old died from suspected child abuse

LINCOLN, Neb. (TCD) — A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the death of a 22-month-old child who died from suspected abuse.

According to a news release from the Lincoln Police Department, on Sunday, March 12, at approximately 4:20 p.m., officers responded to St. Elizabeth Hospital after a 22-month-old child had been sent there with injuries “consistent with abuse.”

The victim was reportedly transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha for a “higher level of care.”

The child’s mother told police she tucked her son into bed for a nap, and when she returned, he was unresponsive, KOLN-TV reports. The mother, who had been dating Joshua Tackett for approximately three months, allegedly noticed bruises and injuries on her son’s body daily.

According to KOLN, the mother told investigators her boyfriend said he fell on top of the toddler a few weeks prior and that her son suffered a leg injury, but she failed to seek medical treatment.

Court documents obtained by KOLN alleged the mother said her son fell down the stairs as well and that he wasn’t eating regularly.

Police served a search warrant at Tackett’s home, where they found an illegal firearm, and he was arrested for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on March 14. On Friday, March 17, Tackett was charged with child abuse resulting in death after the victim succumbed to his injuries.

Tackett remains held in the Lancaster County Department of Corrections, records show.

Since the incident, the state reportedly took custody of the mother’s other children.