PA - Infant triplets, abused by mom, 51, leaving broken bones & brain damage, Bethlehem, 2016-2018

[cybervampira]

Pennsylvania mom and acupuncturist, 51, arrested for physically abusing her newborn triplets | Daily Mail Online

A Pennsylvania acupuncturist is facing multiple charges after allegedly abusing her infant triplets.

Ann Covalt Henry, 51, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was arraigned on 12 felony counts of aggravated assault and one count of child endangerment, authorities revealed Thursday.

The charges were the result of an investigation by Bethlehem police and a county grand jury into doctors finding fractures, bruising and head injuries to the triplets when they were eight weeks old.

Following the birth of her triplets in 2016, Henry allegedly told a caregiver that she was contemplating suicide and wanted to 'throw a baby through a plate glass window', according to The Morning Call.

Henry gave birth to the triplets in July of 2016 at the age of 49. She and her husband Marcus Henry, 32, had received help from fertility specialists.

Grand jury testimony by a doula who visited the Henrys on three separate occasions after the triplets were born described the home as dirty and that it smelled of cat waste.

Another doula reportedly called the mother a 'trainwreck' who presented symptoms of postpartum depression.

Ann Covalt Henry assaulted all three babies in 2016, then injured one of them again last July, after she completed parenting classes and was allowed weekend visits with the children, who were in foster care.



Bethlehem woman charged in assault of infant triplets

Bethlehem mom accused of abusing her infant triplets

Pennsylvania mom and acupuncturist, 51, arrested for physically abusing her newborn triplets

Pennsylvania Mother Charged With Assaulting Her 8-Week-Old Triplets

 

[MsFacetious]

Yes, three babies can be horrifically overwhelming, especially with post partum depression.
Nobody is going to argue that, its simply clear that 6 kids 6 and under is going to be a huge and I wish they'd planned better for this.

 

[lsv7]

I normally have a lot of sympathy for mothers with postpartum depression, but it is hard for me to extend my sympathy to this mother. Child services had been involved for almost two years. It would have been emotionally difficult, but there were a lot of opportunities for her to say that she wasn't ready for unsupervised time with her children.

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 16th. She's in Lehigh County.

 

[Saphyrrra]

I have a vested interest in this case. For reasons I cant explain. But post partum is one thing but abusing a second time 2 years later is another.

 

[Saphyrrra]

Yes, three babies can be horrifically overwhelming, especially with post partum depression.
Nobody is going to argue that, its simply clear that 6 kids 6 and under is going to be a huge and I wish they'd planned better for this.

Theres only 3.

 

[Angleterre]

I have a vested interest in this case. For reasons I cant explain. But post partum is one thing but abusing a second time 2 years later is another.

I don’t know about your laws but I had a case in the U.K. where a mother moved house leaving her child behind at just a few months over 1.
The judge ruled that post partum can only legally apply to 12 months
After that it becomes a form of depression but I agree with you that to do it and then have a break from it then to do it again surely cannot fall under post parum ? Is it not doing a disservice to those that genuinely do have this terrible disease of the mind ?
What makes it worse is what she went through to have the children by IVF
Having said all of that , from personal experience, you are so wanting your own bundle of joy that not a lot is discussed about the effects during and after the treatment. I suffered terribly with both during the IVF and after with early menopause symptoms ( after all they have to forcibly put your body through the menopause so that they can ‘take it over’ to complete the IVF process
And that mental state can be truly terrifying and I personally believe that there needs to be some research done into the effects of IVF and other forms of assisted conception so that we all can be given informed choice with full knowledge that it’s not just the bundle of joy then every thing returns to normal as in my case it didn’t . But I wouldn’t swap my children for the world and they are a blessing so it’s a very mentally conflicting scenario for those who need to take that route . MOO

 

[LadyL]

 

[beatrixpotter]

They take too long to severe parental rights. If you fracture your babies skull and break multiple ribs that should be it. There are no more chances. It's not that freaking hard to not maim babies!! And it's just worse for these children to have to go through early development in foster care when they could be more quickly made available for adoption in a safe home. There are a lot of lasting repercussions from early abuse and lack of bonding. It's best for them to be able to bond early on with good caregivers.

 

[Saphyrrra]

Moms out on bail still...status hearing end if the month. Dad is still actively living with her and still working to get children back.

 

[beatrixpotter]

That woman spent 2 years working the system trying to get her kiss back and abused them again and she only get's them for brief periods of time. I have no sympathy. They should be relinquished and given to people who care. None for dad either if his intent is to get his kids and put them right back with abusive mom. I have had pp depression before and never hurt a baby let alone fractured skulls. She's just flat out dangerous.

 

[jjenny]

They used fertility help. My speculation those might not be her biological children, because at 49 eggs quality are usually very poor quality, so they probably used donor eggs. It's also would be very difficult for woman who had no children to suddenly have to raise them at 49 (I assume she had no other children). It's be a hard adjustment. But I also have no sympathy, this woman deliberately got pregnant (most likely took a lot of effort and funds) and them allegedly abused them and allegedly abused one of them even after they were placed in foster care.

 

[beatrixpotter]

They used fertility help. My speculation those might not be her biological children, because at 49 eggs quality are usually very poor quality, so they probably used donor eggs. It's also would be very difficult for woman who had no children to suddenly have to raise them at 49 (I assume she had no other children). It's be a hard adjustment. But I also have no sympathy, this woman deliberately got pregnant (most likely took a lot of effort and funds) and them allegedly abused them and allegedly kept on abusing even after they were placed in foster care.

Absolutely. There is pretty much no way she used her own eggs at that age. Some other poor woman's children have been abused since birth and in and out of foster care. Probably not what they expected when they donated or sold their eggs.

I agree it would be a hard adjustment too. Newborns are so exhausting. I can't imagine multiples. But, wow, it's so easy to not beat a baby! I just can't fathom how these people hurt babies. I just can't. My newborns are just held, cuddled and loved on non-stop. There is just nothing sweeter or more amazing to me than a newborn. And those babies were premature infants when she started abusing them. Ugh.

 

[Saphyrrra]

3.5 years later the children are still in care. Trial is set for April.

 

[LadyL]

I don't understand why she was given any visitation after fractures, bruising and head injuries to the triplets when they were eight weeks old. That is not only unreasonable, it's outrageous to me.

 

[belleyes]

3.5 years later the children are still in care. Trial is set for April.

If these kids are still waiting to be adopted......that is HORRIBLE!!!!

 

[Saphyrrra]

If these kids are still waiting to be adopted......that is HORRIBLE!!!!

They are still waiting. 4 years later in september

 

[Saphyrrra]

They're still in care and on the road back home.

 

[Marg from Oz]

Road back home? Don't tell me the mother is getting them back.

 

[ifindedout]

Henry pleaded no contest in Sept. 2020; sentenced to 14 years of probation and no-contact order until they reach 18 (article paywalled)

Former Bethlehem mom pleads no contest to abusing infant triplets; may have no contact with them until they’re 18

A former Bethlehem mother of triplets who was accused of abusing all three children when they were just 2 months old pleaded no contest Wednesday in Lehigh County Court. Ann Henry, 53, of Lockhart,…

www.mcall.com