Sentenced: ‘Pure Torture For That Baby’: Infant Hospitalized, Parents Arrested In Sandusky

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Sandusky police arrested two bio-units after the couple’s 4-month-old daughter was hospitalized with several broken bones and other serious injuries.

Devin Mims and Sondra Vanwhy were taken to the Erie County jail.

Mims is facing charges of felonious assault and child endangering. Vanwhy is facing child endangering charges.

“The injuries to that child, it was pure torture for that little baby for months,” said Sandusky Police Detective Carissa Cruz, who investigated the case.

The injuries were reported on February 10 after the parents took her to the hospital.

“She suffered four broken ribs, a broken arm, a broken leg, she has two brain bleeds, she has trouble with her vision now,” said Sandusky Police Chief Jared Oliver. “She is suffering from seizures. This is one of the worst cases of abuse I have ever seen.”

The baby girl is now in the custody of Erie County Children Services.

‘Pure torture for that baby’: Infant hospitalized, parents arrested in Sandusky

“This is one of the worst cases of abuse I have ever seen.”

fox8.com

 

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They both look dim.matching bullets for the happy couple

 

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Pudd looks so unhappy.

 

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In an interview with investigators, Vanwhy reportedly said the reason they brought the infant to the hospital was because the baby started choking while eating, stopped breathing for approximately 10 seconds, then went completely limp. When the child came to, Vanwhy reportedly said that she would not stop crying.

Both parents reportedly said they did not know how the infant could have sustained such extensive injuries, with Mims allegedly saying that he may have gotten a little “rough” when tickling the baby. Investigators countered by pointing out that tickling does not produce multiple fractured ribs.


Mims then reportedly said that he remembered accidentally dropping the child when she was in her baby rocker.

Mims and Vanwhy both confirmed that their daughter does not go to a babysitter and one of them is always in charge of watching her, the Register reported.

“The injuries to that child, it was pure torture for that little baby for months,” Sandusky Police Detective Carissa Cruz told WJW.

The baby girl has since been taken from the care of Mims and Vanwhy and placed in the custody of Erie County Children Services.

'One of the worst cases of abuse I have ever seen': Parents arrested after infant sustained broken arm, leg, ribs, and brain bleed

Devin M. Mims and Sondra Vanwhy were arrested for allegedly abusing their 4-month-old in what the lead detective said was "pure torture for that little baby."

lawandcrime.com

 

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Mar 20, 2026

During a March 4 sentencing hearing, Erie County Common Pleas Court Judge Tygh Tone sentenced Devin Mims to spend between eight years and 12 years in prison. He received a little more than one year of jail time credit.

Mims will face between one and a half and three years of post-release control.

Mims was accused of causing catastrophic injuries to a 4-month-old child, according to Sandusky police.

Detectives were called to a local hospital in February 2023 for a report of a baby with major injuries. The injuries included several rib fractures and bilateral subdural hematomas, or blood clots, from damaged blood vessels between the skull and brain.

Mims reportedly told officers he was "rough" with the child while tickling her.

Investigators told Mims that tickling would not cause rib fractures. When asked if he could think of a time when the baby fell, Mims reportedly admitted to dropping the child while she was in a "bouncer." This was later discovered to be a rocker.

The child's mother, Sondra VanWhy, also faced charges in the case. The 22-year-old woman pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one count of felony child endangering.

At an August sentencing hearing, VanWhy was ordered into the custody of the state for a term of two-and-a-half years.

She has an expected release date of January 2028.

Child abuser gets prison

He was accused of causing catastrophic injuries to infant

sanduskyregister.com

DEVIN MIMS

Admission Date 03/10/2026

Status INCARCERATED

FEL ASSAULT
SB201 Min Yrs: 8.00

SB201 Max Yrs: 12.00

Sentence Information

Aggregate Sentence 8.00-12.00 SB201

Expected Release Date/Parole Eligibility Date 02/08/2033

SONDRA VAN WHY

Admission Date 09/04/2025


Status INCARCERATED


ENDANGER CHILD

Definite/Term Yrs: 2.50


Sentence Information

Aggregate Sentence 2.50 HB86-5

Expected Release Date/Parole Eligibility Date 01/05/2028