2 from East Providence charged with child abuse

EAST PROVIDENCE -- An East Providence woman and her boyfriend have been charged with child abuse after her 15-month-old boy was treated for "potentially life-threatening injuries" at Hasbro Children's Hospital, the East Providence police said.

Trinity Neal, 19, and her boyfriend, Jolaon Perry, 22, both of East Providence, were arrested Sunday and charged with one count each of first-degree child abuse, second-degree child abuse and cruelty to or neglect of a child, the police said in a news release.

The investigation started Oct. 31 after detectives were called to Hasbro Children's Hospital for a report of possible child abuse, the police said. Neal and Perry had brought the infant to the hospital, and the child was in the intensive-care unit with "potentially life-threatening injuries," the police said. The injuries were caused by blunt-force trauma as well as strangulation, according to the police.

Arrest warrants were obtained for Neal and Perry on Sunday following a joint investigation by the East Providence police, the state Department of Children, Youth and Families and doctors from Hasbro's Lawrence A. Aubin Sr. Child Protection Center. Neal and Perry were arrested the same day without incident, the police said. Both were arraigned and ordered held on $20,000 bail with surety, the police said.

The infant has been released from Hasbro Children's Hospital and is in DCYF custody, according to the police.

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