Fayette Whitehorse, of Aneth, Utah, faces two counts of aggravated child abuse after admitting to investigators that she inflicted injuries on her premature twins, born at approximately 33 weeks gestation. The infants, who had only been home from the NICU for a month, exhibited severe injuries including seven fractures and a brain hemorrhage.
The case came to light in late August when Whitehorse and her boyfriend, Austin Meryboy, brought one of the twins to Blue Mountain Hospital, reporting the baby girl had a limp arm. Medical examinations revealed the infant had a fractured humerus, a fractured rib, and a fractured knee. A subsequent examination of the second twin, a boy, using a CT scan, uncovered a significant brain hemorrhage, a fractured forearm, and three rib fractures at varying stages of healing.
These findings prompted Safe and Healthy Families (SFH) to alert the FBI. During an interview with federal agents, Whitehorse reportedly stated that she sometimes becomes frustrated with the twins due to constant caregiving. She confessed to forcefully bending one of the twins' arms in an attempt to place the baby in a car seat, believing this action caused the limp. She also admitted to pulling the baby's arm too aggressively out of frustration, which she acknowledged could have broken it. The fractured knee on the other twin was allegedly sustained when Whitehorse attempted to force the infant's leg into a onesie.
Investigators believe Whitehorse's explanation for the boy's brain hemorrhage involved bouncing him on her knee out of frustration, a claim supported by a child abuse pediatrician. The boy's head circumference measured at the 100th percentile due to swelling, despite his small size resulting from premature birth.
Whitehorse and Meryboy are the sole caretakers of the twins and have three other children together. Whitehorse was arrested on August 26 and conditionally released on Thursday. Her release includes restrictions on her residence, substance use, and possession of weapons. She is also required to undergo a mental health evaluation and drug testing. A trial is scheduled for November 10 to determine the final outcome of the charges.
