2S. A two-year-old child suffered life-threatening injuries at the hands of her stepfather in Bell County. ‘He deserves life imprisonment,’ the family stated after the incident came to light.

30-year-old faces felony charges after toddler sustains skull fracture, brain bleed, and 11 broken bones.

BELL COUNTY, Texas — A Taylor man is facing serious charges after his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son was hospitalized with severe injuries that doctors say are inconsistent with an accidental fall.

Thomas Anthony Jonse, 30, was arrested at his home in Taylor and booked into Bell County Jail on charges of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and injury to a child causing serious bodily injury. He is being held on two $250,000 bonds.

The Incident

On Sunday, December 14th, Bell County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a 2-year-old boy named Colter was being treated at McLane Children’s Hospital for severe injuries.

According to arrest affidavits obtained by 6 News, Jonse was caring for Colter while the child’s mother, Chelsea, was out getting breakfast.

“She had told me that she went out to get breakfast and she had left Colter asleep with Thomas, and she had been gone maybe 25 minutes,” said Lauren Love, Chelsea’s cousin.

Chelsea received a phone call from Jonse saying Colter had hit his head but was okay. She rushed home.

“When she got home, Colter was pretty much unconscious on the couch with the ice pack on his head,” Love said.

Chelsea immediately took Colter to the hospital, despite Jonse’s objections.

“She’s running to the vehicle to put him in there to take him to the hospital, and he’s still just saying, oh, he don’t need to go to the hospital,” said Love. “He don’t need to go. He’s fine.”

According to the affidavits, Temple officers spoke with a social worker and nurse at McLane Children’s Hospital about the circumstances surrounding Colter’s injuries.

Initially, Jonse claimed the two were play fighting when Colter fell off the bed and hit his head. He later changed his story, saying Colter was running on the bed when he fell onto tile flooring.

However, the affidavit reports that the bedroom floor is not tile.

Extent of Injuries

Medical staff at McLane Children’s Hospital discovered Colter had suffered:

• An extensive skull fracture extending from his forehead to the back of his head
• Brain bleeding
• Eleven fractures to his back
• Swelling in his neck
• A busted lip

The hospital reported a high probability of imminent or life-threatening deterioration. A doctor determined the injuries were not consistent with falling off a bed.

“At least 20 hospital employees, doctors, they have all said that, you know, it’s a lot of force that caused that kind of damage,” said Kevin Pruett, Colter’s father. “And then the head doctor over everybody when he came over the MRI, he had said this was definitely 100% an act to take Colter’s life.”

The injuries have caused permanent nerve damage. Family members say Colter will need to relearn how to walk and talk.

Family games

The incident has devastated the family, who say they never saw any warning signs.

“I think she [Chelsea] was in disbelief,” said Love, “She said, I’m gonna marry him. He makes me feel like no one’s ever made me feel. He’s so good to Colter. This was out of nowhere, like he just snapped.”

Chelsea immediately ended the relationship, telling Jonse to leave.

The family emphasized that Chelsea is not to blame for what happened.

Family games

“This is not her fault,” Love said. “She is a very good mom.”

Pruett echoed that sentiment: “I know that she would never intentionally put Colter in harm’s way, and I know she must have trusted this guy to do that.”

He also credited Chelsea’s quick action with saving their son’s life.

“In all honesty, if it wouldn’t have been for Chelsea, Colter wouldn’t be here,” Pruett said.

Recovery and Justice

Despite the severity of his injuries, Colter is showing resilience. 

“Seeing Colter being able to smile again and talk to us is really helpful, like just seeing him, because it’s just, you’re like, wow, this little boy is so strong,” Love said.

The family has established a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses as Colter faces a long road to recovery.

As for Jonse, the family is hoping for the maximum punishment.

“To harm a little innocent child like that, he deserves to spend life in prison,” Love said. “Him getting out, that means there’s no justice served for Colter.”