LILLY HARDEN - 2 yo - Okeechobee FL

Detectives in Okeechobee said a 2-year-old
suffering from shaken baby syndrome was abused by her mother's live-in
boyfriend, and the mother did nothing about it.Deputy Sarah Green
went to the home in the 200 block of North Highway 98 for a welfare
check on a child on April 21.Against the wishes of the adults in
the home, police said, Green examined 2-year-old Lilly Harden and found
bruises covering the girl's head and neck.Lilly wasn't
responsive, so Green immediately called for Emergency Medical Services
against the wishes of the child’s mother, police said.Okeechobee
County Fire and Rescue responded and determined that the child was in
very serious condition with severe brain trauma and a broken arm.The
child was airlifted to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Palm Beach County,
where she remained in the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit
Friday night. Police said Lilly is slowly recovering but not out of
danger yet.
Investigators said a medical examination showed that the child suffered
from shaken baby syndrome. They said there was brain damage, but the
extent of damage has yet to be determined.Since the discovery of
the child’s injuries, detectives said they have been doggedly
investigating the matter. Through the investigation, police said it was
determined that Amanda Lynn Ashby-Harden's live-in boyfriend, John T.
Coleman, caused the injuries to the child.The child’s mother left
the child with her live-in- boyfriend of fewer than six months while
she was at work, police said.The mother said she saw that the
child was bruised, but police said she had been attempting to hide the
abuse by not taking the child for medical treatment.Police said
Lilly had been in her bed for at least a day needing medical care and
not receiving it.The mother was aware of previous abuse to the
child and did nothing to prevent further abuse, police said.The
two were arrested Thursday night, police said, once sufficient evidence
was obtained to secure a conviction.Ashby-Harden, 28, has been
charged with child neglect. Coleman, 26, has been charged with child
neglect and aggravated child abuse.Officials with the Department
of Children and Family Services also removed the victim's siblings from
the home on the same night that the crime was discovered.

Her mother is back to work at Circle K while her daughter is clinging to life. her mother Amanda Ashby Harden has no remorse and doesn't care.. how can she be released!!!!!!! what is wrong with Okeechobee Sherifee Office!!!!! She deserves punishment just like John does!!!! she watched him abuse her child and didn't care!!! She should be sitting by her daughter side.. but no she is at work laughing and smiling like nothing is wrong!!! Circle K should be embarrassed to have her as an employee!!!!!

Keeping little Lilly in my prayers. This beotch of a mother should also be charged as an accessory (sp), she knew it was going on but, was hiding it. These damn women need to be fixed, permanently, they do not deserve to be around or have children if they are found to be involved in something like this. WTH does it take to protect the children? I'm waiting for an answer from any judge,lawyer,cop,child services??? Cat got your tongue azzholes? When is the government in all states going to start getting harsher with these people that abuse/murder our precious children.

Welcome Okee. The mother is not by her daughters side because thankfully I doubt she is allowed anywhere near her. Not that she would bother anyway by the sound of it. I hope she get's a very long jail sentence.

News Channel 5 has been at the mothers home... circle K should be embarrassed to allow her to work. People are outraged here in this town!!

I'm glad this is getting plenty of coverage okee. I expect that circle k have no choice unfortunately. By law she is innocent until proven guilty and could sue for unfair dismissal if they got rid of her I suppose.

You would think embarrsement to their store would be enough reason... or causing too much negative attention to their store... I would fire her sure enough

Welcome Girl from Lake Okeechobee! It would at least be in their (Circle K's) best interest to give her a backroom (away from the public) job for the time being until the case is adjudicated. She would not have any cause for action at that point.

alwaysbelieve wrote: Keeping little Lilly in my prayers. This beotch of a mother should also be charged as an accessory (sp), she knew it was going on but, was hiding it. These damn women need to be fixed, permanently, they do not deserve to be around or have children if they are found to be involved in something like this. WTH does it take to protect the children? I'm waiting for an answer from any judge,lawyer,cop,child services??? Cat got your tongue azzholes? When is the government in all states going to start getting harsher with these people that abuse/murder our precious children.

Why do they even set a bond so low that they can get out of jail. This mother should be sitting in jail feeling some kind of remorse, but no she goes back to work like nothing has happened...Before you know it the boyfriend will be out too on bond....What's it going to take to stop this....I feel that education is the key to all this....These woman and BF's, fathers need to have some kind of "manual" to look at and study before they are allowed to take these innocent children home....JMO

Rare outcome. Child expected to make full recovery...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMbattXZCYc&feature=player_embedded

gotta have that "nooky" and that paycheck if they're smart enough to get a job. u can always have another baby, but its hard to find a "good" man. disgusting biotches!