7MO Nalani Hendrich's Skull Was Broken Into Three Separate Parts

[Sugar Cookie]

A Bell County grand jury handed down two indictments this week on charges related to separate death cases — an infant and a fetus.

Eddie Octavius Braswell, 23, was indicted on Wednesday on two counts of intentional injury to a child after police said he caused injuries on May 11 that led to the death of his 7-month-old daughter on May 16.

His bond was listed at $1 million on the first-degree felony charge of injury to a child with intentional, serious bodily injury.

Braswell is an active-duty soldier assigned to the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

On May 11, Killeen police responded to a residence after Braswell called 911 and said his infant was unresponsive.

When the child, Nalani Jessica Hendrich, arrived at the hospital, a doctor diagnosed her with traumatic brain injury, a skull fracture, scalp tissue swelling, respiratory failure and abusive head trauma, according to the arrest affidavit. Police said that during a subsequent medical examination, a doctor observed that Hendrich’s skull was broken into three separate parts.
The indictment accuses Braswell of causing serious bodily injury to the child “by throwing her body to the ground or against an unknown object, and striking her on or about the head, face and body.”

Police said that Braswell also caused bruising on the child on March 16 by “striking her on or about the head, face and body,” according to the indictment.
Because of the bruising, Hendrich was removed from her mother’s custody by CPS and placed into Braswell’s custody, where she died eight weeks later, according to testimony during a bond hearing last month.

Grand jury hands down indictments in infant, fetus death cases

A Bell County grand jury handed down two indictments this week on charges related to separate death cases — an infant and a fetus.

kdhnews.com

 

[Sugar Cookie]

The mother of a 7-month-old Killeen baby who died in May said she should be planning a 1-year birthday party for her daughter; instead, she keeps her ashes close.

“Her first birthday is coming up and it’s eating me alive,” said Killeen resident Sade Hendrich, mother of Nalani Jessica Hendrich. “I had everything planned for her birthday. Now I dread holidays and birthdays.”

When Nalani was born in September last year, she was received with joy by family members. But now heartache has taken over as the court process continues for Nalani Hendrich’s father, Eddie Octavius Braswell.

“Nalani was one happy, sweet, funny baby; she was the best baby you could ask for,” Hendrich said. “From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I feel in love with her and I was even more excited she was a girl. I would do anything to have her back. I know she loved me.”

“I had so much planned for me and my daughter and it was all ripped from me,” Hendrich said.

The family maintains that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, colloquially known as CPS, made a mistake when Nalani Hendrich was taken from her mother’s care and put in Braswell’s custody after bruising was found on the child’s face.

“CPS took a child from a loving parent and put her back in the care of the abuser, and her death is the result of that decision,” Abram said. “Nalani’s death could have been prevented but somehow there is a crack in the CPS system that we need to close so no other child has to suffer such pain or a parent endure the heartache my niece is experiencing — at this very moment, every single day.”

Abram said that no bruises were on the child when she left Hendrich’s care for visitation with Braswell, but that less than an hour later Braswell texted Hendrich to meet him at the hospital because of bruising on the child’s face.

“CPS is wrong in so many ways. I told them several times that my baby was in danger and I got brushed off,” Hendrich said. “They even told me to stop calling them, that my daughter will stay in his custody. I fought my hardest to get my baby back.”

Hendrich said that she feels Family and Protective Services did not do a real investigation; instead, taking Braswell at his word.

“I’m the one who ended up with a broken heart and a baby who is no longer here and won’t be here ever again,” she said. “I’m left to pick up pieces that I don’t even know how to put back together.”

For the time being, Hendrich is left with questions that cannot ever be answered.

“What did my 7-month-old daughter do to deserve this? Why me, why her?” she said. “I’m so broken; every morning I wake up and cry. But I wipe my tears and keep fighting for her justice.”

Family of baby who died grieves, calls for a murder charge

The mother of a 7-month-old Killeen baby who died in May said she should be planning a 1-year birthday party for her daughter; instead, she keeps her ashes close.

kdhnews.com

 

[Sejanus]

How did the child get bruising on the face which caused mom to lose custody in the first place?

As a side note, the Killeen Herald reporter Emily Hilley-Sierzchula does a nice write up on all the findings from the Grand Jury. I wish this was done in more places.

Oh and finally on an unrelated note.
Is anyone else having trouble with the Android virtual keyboards closing on them when entering comments here?
Everytime I hit return, the keyboard closes. Using Google Chrome. Just curious.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

@Sejanus

He hit the child during the visit and than called the police before the child was returned to mom.

He was only trying to protect his sorry ass I doubt he expected to even be given custody of the child.

 

[Blizzard]

Although the accident occurred in 2018, Neal was not arraigned on criminal charges until July. Police said that he ran a red light and did not take evasive action, causing the death of an unborn child, according to the arrest affidavit.

The fetus was above thing

Nalani Hendrich was taken from her mother’s care and put in Braswell’s custody after bruising was found on the child’s face.

“CPS took a child from a loving parent and put her back in the care of the abuser, and her death is the result of that decision,”

“CPS is wrong in so many ways. I told them several times that my baby was in danger and I got brushed off,” Hendrich said. “They even told me to stop calling them, that my daughter will stay in his custody. I fought my hardest to get my baby back.”

Hendrich said that she feels Family and Protective Services did not do a real investigation; instead, taking Braswell at his word.

Oh great, another CPS with at least some people who do not give a genuine shit.

 

[Gawker]

Wow! Read the rest of the arrests and grand jury returns. I’ve never heard of Killeen, but it sounds wild. Everyone everywhere are losing their minds!

 

[McDanel]

This: "Police said that Braswell also caused bruising on the child on March 16 by “striking her on or about the head, face and body,” according to the indictment.
Because of the bruising, Hendrich was removed from her mother’s custody by CPS and placed into Braswell’s custody, where she died eight weeks later, according to testimony during a bond hearing last month."

Ffs. I have no words.

 

[Satanica]

He could've refused and CPS would've placed her elsewhere, right?

 

[caitierig]

Well that beard is really out of regs...

 

[Alf]

Well that beard is really out of regs...

I wouldn't be surprised to discover he suffers from pseudofolliculitis barbae and uses clippers to shave.

--Al

 

[BBBLUE77]

Not so ironically, @Gawker, Killeen is the home of Fort Hood, which has been in the news a lot lately due to "mysterious disappearances" which usually turn up as dead bodies.

 

[Sugar Cookie]