FROM STAFF REPORTS

The parents of a 10-month-old child face felony child abuse charges following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Martavious Levar Smith, 29, of Indian Pain Brush Drive, Mooresville, and Shalisa Monai Lowe, 31, of Knox Avenue, Statesville, in a news release Tuesday.

ICSO deputies responded to 133 Powder Horn Road, near Mooresville, on Tuesday, July 23, in response to a request to check on the child.

Relatives of the infant contacted the Sheriff’s Office after they saw bruises and other unexplained markings on the child’s body, the sheriff said in a news release. When the deputies and Iredell County EMS personnel arrived, they observed several bruises and injuries to the child, Campbell added.

The infant was transported to Iredell Memorial Hospital, where medical staff members determined the injuries were consistent with physical abuse, Campbell said. The child was transferred to Brenner’s Children’s Hospital for further evaluation.

Detective R. Vargas was assigned to the case for further investigation. The detective conducted several interviews with witnesses and family members. Other detectives collected evidence from medical evaluations conducted on the child at both hospitals.

Medical experts at Brenner’s Children’s Hospital determined the child’s injuries were caused by intentional physical abuse and concluded some of the injuries were consistent with cigarette lighter burns and bite marks, according to the news release.

As a result of the investigation, both parents were charged with felony intentional child abuse causing serious bodily injury. Smith and Lowe were arrested on July 27 and taken to the Iredell County Detention Center.

Smith was issued a $100,000 secured bond, and Lowe received an $80,000 secured bond.

Both remained in custody on Tuesday.

This investigation is ongoing by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office and the Iredell County Department of Social Services.