Bend couple jailed in abuse, neglect of 2-year-old daughter

(Update: DA says girl had several bone fractures found to not be accidental)

A Bend couple face criminal mistreatment charges in the alleged abuse and neglect of their 2-year-old daughter, who suffered several bone fractures, was left home by one or the other parent on more than a dozen occasions and was present when the couple used heroin and methamphetamine, authorities said Thursday.

On Aug 1, Bend police, assisted by the Oregon Department of Human Services/Child Welfare, went to a home in the 1000 block of Southeast Fourth Street to investigate a reported case of domestic violence and child abuse, said Lt. Clint Burleigh.

Officers found Matthew Mitchell, 25, at home with his 2-year-old daughter, Burleigh said, and an investigation revealed that he was assaulted by his wife, Juliana Mitchell, 24, who had left before police arrived.

During the police and DHS visit, they found the couple’s daughter had suspicious injuries that fit the description of those covered by “Karly’s Law,” which mandates that children found with suspicious injuries during an abuse investigation receive medical treatment within 48 hours.

Under that law, Oregon DHS and trained medical providers are to assess the injuries. It sets protocol and procedures if abuse is suspected, ensuring a complete investigation by police and DHS-Child Welfare.

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said the girl had several bone fractures and that “we determined the injuries were not accidentally caused.”

Investigators learned that Juliana Mitchell had left their daughter at home alone on at least four occasions, Burleigh said, and her husband had done so at least nine times. Matthew Mitchell also allegedly left the apartment unlocked when he left her home alone.

Investigators also said both heroin and methamphetamine were used by the couple while their daughter was present.

“The injuries sustained by the 2-year-old daughter were directly related from the neglect from both Matthew and Juliana,” Burleigh said in a news release.

Detectives concluded the investigation on Wednesday, when they contacted the couple at their home. Both were taken into custody and booked into the Deschutes County Jail.

Juliana Mitchell was arraigned Thursday on the DA’s initial charging document, listing five counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and one count each of first-, third- and fourth-degree assault, involving incidents between April 1 and July 31. The assault charges involve alleged serious injuries. She remained held on $100,000 bail.

Matthew Mitchell was arraigned on an initial 10 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, involving incidents between May 1 and July 31. He was held on $50,000 bail.

Both are due back in court Aug 24, after a grand jury reviews the case and decides on a formal indictment.

“The Bend Police Department would like to remind our community we take all crimes against children seriously,” Burleigh said in a news release.

“If you are aware of crimes similar to this, we ask you to report the cases to local law enforcement or Oregon DHS/Child Welfare. Additional training regarding identifying children in abusive situations can be obtained through the Kids Center’s Darkness to Light training. More information can be found on the Kids Center website at http://www.kidscenter.org/parent-trainings/.