On July 13, 2011, after receiving an anonymous tip, Child Protective Services contacted the Chandler Police to report a four-year-old boy was at a local hospital with a leg fracture and other injuries. The tipster added these injuries were the result of ongoing abuse.
On August 17, 2011 Family Crimes Detectives arrested 22-year-old Melissa Chambers and her 26-year-old boyfriend, Travis Darrah, and booked both into the Maricopa County Jail, charging each with one count of Child Abuse. Melissa was also charged with one count of Hindering Prosecution. Currently, the boy is in the care of CPS. Melissa and Travis have since been released from jail.
As in many abuse cases, the child victim in this incident had evidence of injuries from past abuse. Child abuse is rarely a one-time incident; the perpetrators of these heinous crimes commit the abuse on a consistent basis. Abuse frequently escalates, often resulting in serious injury or, if undetected or unreported, the death of a child.
The Chandler Police Department urges everyone to report suspicion of abuse to their local law enforcement agency or to CPS. Help from the public in reporting suspicious marks, patterns, clothing, or mannerisms is a duty and an obligation we all share. For more information, please visit www.preventchildabuse.us or call 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-777-2445).
For further information contact Detective Seth Tyler.
