Clay County, West Virginia – A deeply disturbing case has surfaced where a 41-year-old father, Timothy L. Ferrebee, has been arrested for allegedly abusing his 3-month-old daughter, causing life-threatening internal injuries. According to police, Ferrebee admitted to squeezing the infant out of frustration after a long day at work.
He is now facing charges of child abuse by a parent and strangulation, suffocation, or asphyxiation, as per court documents.
What Happened?
On Saturday, troopers from the West Virginia State Police, Clay County Division, were called to Summersville Regional Medical Center following a report of a seriously injured infant.
Due to the severity of the baby’s condition, she was immediately transferred to Ruby Memorial Children’s Hospital in Morgantown for advanced pediatric care.
Doctors found:
- Internal damage to both lungs
- Air trapped in her chest cavity (thoracic cavity), requiring surgery
- Bruising and a tear in her esophagus, also requiring surgery
- The child had to be placed in a medically-induced coma
How Did the Incident Come to Light?
The baby’s biological mother reportedly brought her daughter to the hospital right after a custody exchange with Timothy Ferrebee and his girlfriend, Jerri Ferrebee, who is also his ex-wife. Although she is not the child’s biological mother, Jerri was living with Timothy at the time.
Timothy Ferrebee’s Confession
At first, Timothy Ferrebee denied knowing how the baby got hurt, even telling police that he asked Jerri about the bruises.
However, when police questioned him further, he eventually confessed. He allegedly claimed that he was trying to “relieve the baby of built-up feces” by squeezing her. Later, he admitted that he was frustrated from work and a verbal argument with his girlfriend, and took it out on the baby.
“The infant just happened to be in front of me while I was venting,” he reportedly told police.
Role of Jerri Ferrebee
Jerri Ferrebee, 36, who works as a special needs educator aide with the Clay County School District, was also arrested. She is being charged with:
- Child neglect resulting in injury
- Failure to report child abuse
She reportedly left the house for about 40 minutes to get a soda. When she returned, she noticed red marks on the baby’s stomach, described as busted capillaries, but did not seek medical help or inform authorities.
As a mandatory reporter under her profession, she was legally required to report signs of child abuse but waited nearly eight hours, during which the baby’s condition worsened.
Current Status
- Timothy Ferrebee is being held at the Central Regional Jail with a $100,000 bond
- Jerri Ferrebee is also in custody with a $55,000 cash-only bond
The baby remains hospitalized in critical condition but is receiving specialized care.