WILLIAM DEAN PLASTER III - 3 Months - Sandy Ridge (E of Elizabeth City) NC

Sandy Ridge NC ---- Two people were arrested and jail after an
investigation into the abuse of an infant.
Stokes County Sheriff's deputies began the investigation on April 22
after a three-month-old was taken to Morehead Eden Hospital with severe
trauma. The infant was airlifted to Baptist Hospital.
Doctors say the child had various broken ribs, a broken right leg and
severe head trauma including retinal and brain hemorrhaging.
Doctors determined the injuries were non-accidental.


Investigators then arrested Shannon Fortenberry, 37, and William
Plaster, 37, of the same address. Both are charged with Attempted First
Degree Murder, Assault With A Deadly Weapon With Intent to Kill
Inflicting Serious Injury, Felony Child Abuse, and Child Abuse
Inflicting Serious Injury.
Both are jailed under a $10 million bond.

A Sandy Ridge couple has been charged with attempted first-degree
murder and other offenses after their 4-month-old son was severely
injured at their home, leaving him in vegetative state, authorities said
today.

The baby has three broken ribs, a broken right leg, and head trauma,
including a bruised chin and bleeding in his brain and retina, said Maj.
Durward Bennett of the Stokes County Sheriff's Office.

The baby, William Dean Plaster III, was initially taken to the
Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden.

Doctors who examined him there called authorities about his injuries,
Bennett said.

The baby was transferred to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical
Center, where doctors determined that he is in a vegetative state caused
by his injuries.

William Dean Plaster Jr., 37, and Shannon Audrey Casey Fortenberry,
37, both of 2542 Amostown Road, were also charged on May 27 with felony
assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious
injury and two counts of felony child abuse, arrest warrants say.

Plaster and Fortenberry are accused of abusing William from Jan. 9 to
April 22, the warrants say. They live in a house about 11 miles
northeast of Danbury, and the baby was abused there.

The baby has been released from Wake Forest Baptist, a hospital
spokeswoman said.

Plaster and Fortenberry were being held this afternoon in the Stokes
County Jail with their bonds each set at $10 million. They are scheduled
to appear in court on June 16.