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Doctors Say Baby’s Injuries Are Not Accidental

Posted at 4:14 PM, Apr 04, 2012
and last updated 2013-02-20 13:03:44-05

A Ottawa County father is refusing to talk to detectives after doctors say his baby’s severe head injury and broken bones are not accidental.

On Friday, the parents of 5-month-old Layla Kupres took her to the hospital in Zeeland because she was vomiting, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department.  On Saturday, she was transferred to Devos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids – that’s when doctors called Child Protective Services (CPS) and police.

“It is an abuse case, and we’re investigating it as such,” says Lt. Mark Bennett.  “There’s significant injury to the child that was not accidental.”

He says the infant has a serious closed head injury and several fractures in her arms and legs.

“It’s alarming,” Lt. Bennett says.  “Someone caused these injuries (and) our job, now, is the find the facts and figure out who caused (the baby’s injuries).”

According to Lt. Bennett, investigators says the baby’s mother, Jessica Jones, and several other people who were around the baby over the past week, are cooperating fully.  However, the baby’s father – 27-year-old Ryan Kupres who spent a year in prison for child abuse in 2008 – is refusing to speak to detectives.

“(Ryan Kupres) does have a (child abuse) conviction,” explains Lt. Bennett.  “That doesn’t automatically make him a suspect, … and just because he hasn’t spoken with us yet, doesn’t make him guilty (in this case).”  He adds that detectives will continue to reach out to Ryan Kupres.

FOX 17 tried contacting the baby’s parents – once at a home where Ryan sometimes stays in Jenison, and again at the family’s home in Zeeland – but no one answered the door.

A Neighbor told FOX 17 that she would never suspect child abuse from the family and the parents seemed like nice people.

The Sheriff’s Department says no arrests have been made, and that CPS has removed another child from the family’s home, but the move was strictly procedural.

As of 5:30 P.M. Wednesday, baby Layla is in critical condition.