On July 25, 2018, the Parkersburg Police finalized an investigation of child abuse with the arrest of Sylvia Lynn Eden, 27 of Parkersburg.
This investigation began on July 11, 2018 when medical staff from Nationwide Children’s Hospital contacted the department to report suspicious injuries to a 16-month old baby boy. The injuries appeared to be chemical burns to the child’s face, back and shoulder. These injuries were not consistent with accidental trauma.
Detectives went to the residence where this incident took place and spoke to the mother of the injured child on 7th Avenue in Parkersburg. The initial statement made to the detective was that a four-year-old sibling had sprayed bleach into the face of the baby while it was lying in the crib.
Detective N.R. Deuley continued his investigation and was able to determine that the four-year-old had no involvement in the injuries to her brother. According to a criminal complaint, Eden was mirandized at the Parkersburg Police Department and had provided information to Detective Deuley about the incident that took place on July 9, 2018. Eden admitted to spraying her son in the face with bleach. Furthermore, she admitted to leaving him lay in his crib for nearly twenty minutes before going to check on him. She stated that she did this act due to the baby crying and that she was upset. Eden stated that she initially blamed the incident on the other child because she would not be able to defend herself and say otherwise.
After this interview, Sylvia Lynn Eden was arrested on two felony charges; Child Abuse Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Child Neglect Creating Serious Bodily Injury. She was arraigned in Wood County Magistrate Court in Magistrate Waters Court. Waters set the bond at $200,000.00 and Eden was sent to the North Central Regional Jail to await further court proceedings.
Both children have been placed in a safer environment with other family and or friends.
The Parkersburg Police Department remains committed to helping children involved in abuse and neglect cases. Detective Deuley went above and beyond in this case helping two children escape an unhealthy environment.
