SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. — A Sevierville woman faces several charges including murder, child abuse and neglect, according to Sevier County court documents.
Brenda Dawn Behunin, 33, was indicted for first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect among others in the death of a 3-year-old boy who authorities say she was abusing.
The grand jury returned the indictment on Feb. 28 and she was taken into custody Wednesday.
She pulled out his hair, struck his genital area and failed to seek medical attention for the child between December 2021 and January 2022, according to the indictments.
The Sevier County Sheriff's Office began investigating on Jan. 1. The boy had been taken by ambulance to LeConte Medical Center from a residence on Sims Road following a 911 call about an unresponsive child, according to Deputy Chief Jeff McCarter.
The child was moved to East Tennessee Children's Hospital, where he died of his injuries on Jan. 11.
"Upon investigation by detectives and the (state Department of Children's Services), it was determined that the injuries were inflicted by the mother and not as initially reported to authorities as a fall," McCarter's news release states.
Court documents allege she neglected the child for several years by allowing another person to injure the child and withholding nourishment and basic needs from him.
During the same time period, she neglected four other children including two 10-year-old boys, a 12-year-old boy and most recently, a 2-year-old girl, according to the indictments.
She was booked at about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday into the Sevier County Jail.
Bond has been set at $1 million.