Tennessee parents are facing multiple charges in connection with their son’s death. Fayette County indicted Christopher Gardner and Ashley Long for neglect and abuse of their son on Monday.
Charged with Negligence, Abuse
The couple took young Max to a nearby hospital, where he died quickly. Gardner and Long were arrested after bringing Max to the hospital and held at the Fayette County Jail since June 23. Authorities served warrants on the six indicted charges on each parent on Tuesday, and both are indicted of murder. The judge set each parent’s bond at $1 million.
Ashley Long and Christopher Gardner were charged with felony murder, aggravated child abuse, neglect, and endangerment, and child abuse, neglect, and endangerment.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Oakland Police Department are investigating Max Long’s death. On June 23, 2022, TBI agents joined the OPD’s investigation into Long’s case at the request of 25th Judicial District Attorney General Mark Davidson, a source posted.
Evidence of Neglect, Abuse
During the investigation, authorities determined that the parents were to blame. Investigators believe that Max’s alleged abuse and neglect occurred at the family’s home in the 100 block of Laurel Street in Oakland.
An autopsy revealed that the couple was to blame for the infant’s death. Further investigation of the three other children they had in their home indicated that they had been abused and neglected, according to a report.
According to one source, nearly 200 children died in Texas due to abuse and neglect. The Department of Family and Protective Services investigated 964 child deaths between September 2020 and August 2021. According to the agency, 199 of these children died due to abuse or neglect.
Most abuse and neglect cases have no ongoing state investigation or services provided to the home.
