A 9-year-old Indiana boy weighing just 51 pounds spent nearly a month hospitalized after authorities say he was the victim of severe 𝘢bu𝘴e and neglect.

His father, Jacob Neal, and Neal’s girlfriend, Elizabeth Crow, are now being held in the Clinton County Jail. Both face charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to allegations detailed in court documents, the boy was taken to the Frankfort emergency room on August 26. Neal and Crow reportedly told medical personnel that a shelf had fallen on the child.

Doctors, however, allegedly recognized signs that were inconsistent with that explanation and immediately became concerned about severe child 𝘢bu𝘴e.

Medical personnel documented extensive injuries, including bruising to both sides of the boy’s face and head, significant swelling involving his left elbow, both knees and both feet, and an abnormal inward positioning of his left leg that reportedly caused extreme pain when moved.

He also suffered a traumatic injury to his eye. His pupils were different sizes, and medical staff discovered a pressure sore on his pelvis, additional bruising and open wounds on the inside of his right hand.

The boy was described as severely underweight, with his ribs visible. He was eventually transported by helicopter to Riley Hospital for Children after receiving a blood transfusion.

According to the court documents, doctors diagnosed the child with malnutrition, symptomatic anemia, a gastrointestinal bleed, two subdural hematomas to the back of his head, a lung infection, constipation, an abnormality involving the left humerus, and compression fractures involving the T1 through T4 vertebrae.

Additional sores and ulcers were reportedly discovered during his hospitalization.

WHAT AUTHORITIES SAY LIFE WAS LIKE AT HOME

Court documents also describe troubling conditions involving the boy’s education and responsibilities inside the home.

Authorities allege the 9-year-old was homeschooled and was expected to read approximately one chapter of Charlotte’s Web each day. Investigators also say he was expected to help care for three younger children living in the home.

Police reportedly said Crow was unemployed.

Investigators also obtained text messages exchanged between Neal and Crow that allegedly describe withholding food from the boy.

In one exchange, Crow reportedly wrote that the child could go without eating that day “to see how he likes it.”

Other messages allegedly discuss physical punishment and bruising. In another message, Crow reportedly complained about the boy taking food and described being frustrated that he could not help care for the younger children because he was being punished.

Another message allegedly states that the boy had been repeatedly begging for food.

Investigators say the messages also contain statements from the couple expressing intense hostility toward the child and discussing how their lives would be better without him.

THIS IS NOT CROW’S FIRST NEGLECT CASE

According to the information outlined in the case, this is not the first time Crow has faced a neglect-related charge.

In January, she was accused of leaving two children outside a Walmart in a shopping cart for approximately 16 minutes before someone brought the children inside.

A trial in that case is currently scheduled for November.

Neal and Crow are expected to appear in court for their initial hearing tomorrow.

The allegations described above come from court documents and authorities’ claims. They are accusations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

As this case develops, additional information about the hearing and the condition of the child may become available.