SANDY, Utah (KUTV) — A Sandy couple is facing several felony domestic violence-related charges for the alleged abuse of a three-year-old girl.
Amber Lee Leary, 29, a certified nursing assistant, was arrested on suspicion of attempted aggravated murder, a first-degree felony; aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony; and child torture, a first-degree felony.
Her live-in boyfriend, Tyrel Scott Belone, 28, a nurse, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault, a second-degree felony; tampering with a witness, a third-degree felony; violent offense in the presence of a child, a third-degree felony; and three counts of intentional child abuse, all class A misdemeanors.
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Just before 7:15 a.m. on Friday, June 27, officers with the Sandy City Police Department received a complaint about an unresponsive three-year-old.
They arrived at the scene and found the child lying on the bed, covered in bruises. The child’s body was a “greenish-blue color with her eyes open but not tracking,” the affidavit states.
The child was transported to an area hospital and then to Primary Children’s. According to the affidavit, the child had a skull fracture and brain bleed, and her bruises were “not consistent with accidental injury or from play.”
Belone is responsible for caring for the child while Leary works, the affidavit states. He reportedly told officers he was “frustrated and angry” over potty training the child, and said his physical discipline had become “more and more frequent” over the past few weeks.
He admitted to spanking, punching, slapping, and striking the child several times.
On June 22, Belone allegedly texted Leary, saying he was going to murder the child. Leary “did not leave work, nor did she make any effort to call 911 or anyone else for that matter,” the affidavit states.
He texted her a few hours later, making similar threats, but Leary “again did not leave work.”
On June 27, Belone allegedly sent Leary another text message threatening the child’s life.
Once again, Leary “did not leave work, nor did she make any effort to call 911,” the affidavit states.
On June 28, at approximately 4:30 a.m., Belone allegedly threw the child on her bed.
“She ricocheted off the bed and hit the wall with her head,” the affidavit states. “She cried for about five minutes and then became lethargic. Her breathing sounded funny with wheezes in the base of her lungs. Her eyes were not responding to light.”
Neither Belone nor Leary, however, “made any effort to call police, fire, or 911 to render aid.”
Leary left for work shortly after, but Belone texted her, telling her to come home.
Leary then texted her employer, saying she would not be coming in, but “did not call 911 until 7:13 a.m., almost an hour and a half after knowing [the child] was ‘unresponsive,'” the affidavit states.
Leary and Belone were booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.
“This case is more heinous than originally understood,” said Nathan Evershed, a former prosecutor turned defense attorney. “They are going to be charging these individuals with multiple first-degree felonies.”
Child abuse advocate Laurieann Thorpe said the victim’s age makes the situation even more tragic.
“The most dangerous age for physical abuse is when children are potty training,” she said.
“In her case, there is one word everything is going to be centered on, and that’s ‘permits,’” Evershed added, referring to Leary’s legal exposure. “How does a jury interpret that? How did she permit that to happen?”
As of Tuesday night, the child remains in critical condition. If the child does not survive, the charges will likely be upgraded to murder.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or dating violence, resources are available to help. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.
The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition hotline can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-897-5465, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233.
A list of local domestic violence shelters can be found at domesticshelters.org. Resources and shelter are also available through the YWCA of Utah.
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