Baby in attempted-murder case may not walk; parents arrested

A 9-month-old Colorado Springs girl who was brought to Memorial Hospital in July with suspicious injuries is expected to survive but may never walk or talk, authorities said.

The girl’s parents, 22-year-old Amanda Marie Dolan and 23-year-old Jesse Lee Kaizen, were arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of child abuse.  Prosecutors said they intend to charge them with attempted murder.

According to an arrest affidavit, the pair denied abusing the girl but admitted they waited to seek treatment, in part because of an outstanding warrant for Kaizen’s arrest in an unrelated matter. The pair also told police they abused methamphetamine and crack cocaine while caring for the girl, authorities said.

Their bond was set at $100,000 at a court hearing in Colorado Springs on Thursday.

Police began investigating July 6 after Dolan brought the baby to Memorial.

Doctors who examined the girl found injuries consistent with abuse, including fractured ribs, bruising on her face and body, and brain damage.  Some of the injuries were partially healed while others appeared more recent.

Dolan told police that she noticed the injuries after periods when the girl was left in in Kaizen’s care, but that she didn’t seek medical help or contact police. She allegedly had month-old pictures on her camera documenting injuries.

According to court documents, Dolan waited 3 ½ hours before seeking treatment for the child after noticing the latest round of injuries. She admitted that she had gone on an errand to purchase meth before spotting the bruising that morning, and Kaizen told police the pair smoked the drug before she left for the hospital.

Doctors fear the baby could be blind and bed-ridden for life, authorities said.