Mother Blames Social Services After Convicted Abuser Boyfriend Charged in Baby's Death
The mother of a four-month-old infant who died from abusive head trauma has pointed fingers at the Department of Children's Services, stating they approved her boyfriend's presence in the home.
A Tennessee mother is facing intense scrutiny after her four-month-old daughter died from injuries attributed to her boyfriend, who has a prior child abuse conviction. The mother, Jessica Petty, has stated that the Department of Children's Services (DCS) approved her boyfriend, Bobby Randall Conner, being in the home with her infant daughter, Neveah.
Neveah died on Wednesday at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville. Medical professionals reported that the infant suffered fatal head injuries and retinal hemorrhaging consistent with abuse and shaking. Conner, who was living with Petty, has been charged with Neveah's murder. He was previously convicted of child neglect in August 2026 and child abuse in 2020.
In an interview with NewsChannel5, Petty deflected blame, stating, "I didn't do anything to my daughter, I was okayed by DCS to leave her with him. If anything DCS should be the one answering why they would allow him to be around my kid."
When questioned about whether she took a risk by allowing Conner to care for Neveah, Petty responded, "No comment."
Neveah's biological father, Eddie Wagner, expressed his grief and stated he had urged Petty not to leave their daughter with Conner. "I wanted [Jessica] to realize that this was not okay, she's stubborn and she don't really listen to other people," Wagner told the outlet. Wagner had contacted DCS, who reportedly visited the residence and found Neveah unharmed at the time.
According to police, Conner was arrested at a motel on Wednesday. His initial charge of aggravated abuse has been upgraded to murder. He is currently being held on a $500,000 bond.
Legal interpretations suggest that DCS would typically only intervene and remove a child if the abuser had a conviction for sexual abuse. Conner's convictions for child neglect and abuse, while serious, may not have met the threshold for mandatory removal according to state protocols at the time.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with funeral expenses for Neveah and to provide support to Wagner. The fundraiser's description states, "Precious baby girl Nevaeh Faith Wagner entered into the presence of the Lord on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 after being unalived by her mother’s boyfriend, who was a repeat child abuse offender."