Samantha Sue Laverty

     Following an investigation into serious injuries sustained by an 18 month old child, the Sheriff’s Office has arrested 20 year old SAMANTHA SUE LAVERTY of Midway, Arkansas on charges of felony Battery and Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.

     On September 11th, the Sheriff’s Office was notified by Baxter Regional Medical Center of suspicious injuries to a young female child.  These included a broken bone and numerous areas of bruising.  The child was later transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock for treatment. 

     The Arkansas Children’s Hospital reported that the mother of the child, SAMANTHA LAVERTY, gave conflicting accounts of how the injuries occurred.  She also later gave conflicting statements to Sheriff’s Investigators when interviewed about the situation.  The injuries sustained by the child were also not consistent with the manner in which LAVERTY said they occurred.

     The child also tested positive for high levels of amphetamines and cannabinoids. 

     SAMANTHA SUE LAVERTY has been incarcerated in the Detention Center on charges of:

Battery in the Second Degree – Felony
Endangering the Welfare of a Minor (2 counts) – Felonies

     She is being held in lieu of $25,000 bond and will appear before the Baxter County Circuit Court on September 27th to answer the charges.

     The Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services, also participated in the investigation.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff