According to police, an investigation was launched August 4 after Child Protective Services received a tip that an infant was bleeding from her vaginal area and that the mother "knew about the bleeding, but did not take the child to the hospital because she did not want to get the authorities involved."
The child was taken to a local hospital where doctors determined that the infant was suffering from severe vaginal bleeding and tearing that would require surgery to repair. The child was also suffering from a burn to her abdomen, fractures in both legs, three broken ribs and numerous scrapes and bruises.
When detectives interviewed the couple, Pender stated that she wasn't aware of the injuries and didn't know how they occurred.
O'Neal told detectives that he placed his finger inside the baby's vagina to "clean it out" during a diaper change. He also stated that the infant's burn was likely caused by a cigarette he was smoking near the girl. He went on to say the rest of the child's injuries were a result of her falling off a bed.
Two children residing in the house told detectives that O'Neal pressed hard on the infant's stomach "until she pooped." One child reported seeing O'Neal hold the infant by her ankles, strike her in the legs and scratch her with his finger nails as she screamed.
The children stated that the mother was present during the assaults and that the couple frequently argued about the abuse.
O'Neal was booked into the Coryell County Jail and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and injury to a child causing serious injury. O'Neal's bond has been set at $1 million.
Pender was charged with injury to a child with serious bodily injury. Her bond has been set at $500,000.
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