A Utah couple has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly severely beating the woman’s 3-year-old daughter, leaving her in critical condition. Tyrel Scott Belone, 28, and Amber Lee Leary, 29, face multiple charges, including attempted aggravated murder, aggravated child abuse, and child torture.
The child, referred to in court documents as C.W., was placed in a medically induced coma after the brutal beating.
The Chilling Incident
On June 28, 2024, at around 7:15 a.m., Sandy Police officers responded to a call at a residence where they found Leary outside the house. She led them to the basement, where they discovered C.W. lying motionless on the floor.
Although the child was unresponsive and showed no signs of alertness, the officers felt a faint pulse and detected breathing, indicating she was alive but in critical condition.
Upon further examination, C.W. was found with severe bruising across her body, including significant marks near her eyes and a greenish-blue hue over her entire body. It appeared she was not receiving enough oxygen. The child was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where she remained in critical condition.
Details of the Abuse
As authorities began to question the parents, it was revealed that the couple had moved to Utah in early May. Leary worked as a certified nursing assistant, and Belone was employed as a nurse.
According to Belone, C.W. had been acting out in the weeks leading up to the incident, including regressing in her potty training and being “combative,” even allegedly biting Belone.
In the early morning hours of June 28, before the police arrived, C.W. had reportedly soiled herself in the home. Leary had already left for work around 5:30 a.m. when Belone became frustrated with the child. He admitted to picking C.W. up and throwing her onto a mattress, causing her to hit the wall.
Belone described the incident, saying that the child’s body “skimmed” over the bed like “a rock skipping over water,” and when she hit the wall, most of the impact was to the right side of her head and face.
Belone’s Confessions
Following the incident, Belone admitted to police that he had been abusive toward C.W. before. He acknowledged giving the child bruises, including hitting her on June 27, and confirmed that Leary was aware of his actions.
According to the complaint, Belone and Leary had attempted to hide the signs of the abuse and had been discussing how to “fix” the situation before police arrived.
After the incident, Belone reportedly contacted his mother, who is a nurse practitioner, for advice. It is believed that she called emergency services for help. Leary, after learning of the incident, was reportedly aware of the abuse but did not intervene to prevent it.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Both Belone and Leary are facing charges related to the violent abuse of C.W. and are now under arrest. As of the latest reports, the child remains in critical condition in the hospital. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, which has shocked the community.
