Campbell child abuse case in court; injuries consistent with scalding water

A Campbell County mother and the man she lives with were in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

Lindsey Norris and David Thomas are currently being held in the Campbell County jail on charges of child abuse.

A sheriff's report said injuries to Norris' 1-year-old daughter were inflicted in a "heinous, atrocious and cruel manner."

Tuesday, details were released with regard to what exactly that might mean.

Doctors say the burns on the baby's face were consistent with being immersed in scalding hot water, which may also be the cause for burns on her feet. The other potential cause for those burns is contact with a scalding hot surface.

The baby also had marks and bruises on her abdomen and genitals, consistent with being hit with an object like a belt.

Who is responsible, and when the injuries occurred, reveals conflicting stories.

Norris says Thomas came home from the bar where he worked around 1:30 in the morning on Friday, January 22. She says Thomas watched the kids for her while she showered, and when she finished, she discovered the injuries on the baby.

However, Thomas' father testified that he was with his son at that bar until 5 a.m. He says Norris called the bar around 3 o'clock, asking him to pass a message to his son that the baby had some kind of injury.

Thomas' bond was reduced to $200,000.

Norris' bond remains at $250,000.

Their case is now in the hands of a grand jury awaiting indictment.

Editor's note: A previous story identified Thomas as Norris' boyfriend, but in court, both defendants adamantly denied a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.