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.
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.
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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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.