ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A man investigators said was on the run after abusing a 4-year-old boy in Rowan County turned himself in Wednesday night.
Brandon Scott Meeks, 27, was wanted by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
Last December, the Sheriff’s Office Special Victim’s Unit began investigating the abuse after the child was brought to the hospital with injuries to his genitals and bruising on his body, officials said.
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The injuries were determined to be “non-accidental trauma” and the boy was later forensically interviewed at the Terrie Hess House Child Advocacy Center in Salisbury.
Meeks was named as a suspect, along with the child’s mother, Hannah Eller.
Detectives said Meeks had abused the boy and held the child underwater in the bathtub as another form of punishment.
Deputies said Eller, 25, was aware of the abuse and was present when some of it happened, but never stopped, reported or prevented it.
Detectives took out warrants on both Meeks and Eller for child abuse charges and Eller was arrested on Saturday. She was placed in the Rowan County Jail under a $75,000 bond.
Meeks was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond.
Investigators said the boy is staying with other family members at this time.
Beth McKeithan is the executive director of the Prevent Child Abuse Rowan County, where the child was interviewed while detectives listened.
"People have no idea the impact that trauma can have on those kiddos," McKeithan said. "We're forensically trained in a way to interview the child in a way that reduces trauma while getting the most information possible."
McKeithan said she couldn't speak about specific information in the case and whether the boy is receiving help, but told Eyewitness News Anchor Liz Foster all children referred to the agency are offered therapy and other services for free.
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