A Nebraska man will stay in jail as prosecutors revealed disturbing details of child abuse that led to the death of his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son.
Child’s Death Sparks Investigation
Timothy Lee Erks, 31, was arrested in June after his girlfriend’s son was rushed to the hospital unresponsive. The child was later declared brain dead and died a week later. His mother, Heather Lorraine Peterson, 30, was also arrested and charged with felony child abuse.
Severe Injuries Found
According to court documents, Peterson first took her son to a Kansas hospital before he was transferred to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Doctors discovered he had suffered broken ribs, a bloody eye, multiple bruises, and severe brain injuries. They also suspected he had been whipped across his back.
An autopsy later showed a torn pancreas and badly damaged buttocks, injuries believed to be the result of violent spanking.
Infant Also Abused
While at the hospital, medical staff examined Peterson’s 1-year-old daughter and found patterned bruising consistent with harsh spanking. Authorities immediately took custody of the infant, and she was placed with Missouri’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Peterson fled to a homeless shelter before U.S. Marshals arrested her in early August. She is currently in custody at the Gage County Detention Center with bail set at $2,500.
Disturbing Punishments at Home
The investigation into the family’s home revealed further instances of abuse. Prosecutors said Erks had a short temper with the boy due to problems with incontinence and disobedience.
He allegedly forced the child to walk back and forth outside in extreme heat, calling it “rec time.” On June 21, when temperatures passed 100 degrees, the boy collapsed from heatstroke.
The next day, when the boy refused chores and “rec time,” Erks reportedly threw him outside “like a sack of potatoes.” The child cried once before falling unconscious. Despite Erks refusing to let Peterson use his truck, she drove her son to the hospital in another way.
Other Alleged Abuse
Prosecutors also detailed other cruel punishments, including:
All-night “time-outs” from 8 p.m. until sunrise.
The boy being tied up with a diaper taped to him, caught on home security cameras.
Arrest and Charges
On June 23, deputies tracked down Erks while he was driving and arrested him after questioning. He now faces charges of:
Intentional child abuse causing death
Two additional counts of child abuse
False imprisonment
His bond, initially set at $100,000, was revoked by the judge.
This heartbreaking case reveals a pattern of horrific abuse that ended in the death of a 5-year-old boy who should have been safe in his own home. With both Erks and Peterson behind bars, prosecutors are working to ensure justice for the child while his little sister is now under state protection.
The tragedy highlights the importance of vigilance in identifying and reporting child abuse before it turns deadly.
