Savages Hang Toddler by His Ankles in Closet and Beat Him

Can it get any more depraved than this?

Louis Wright, an 18-month-old boy, was fighting for his life in an intensive care unit Thursday after having been hung by his ankles in a closet and repeatedly beaten and tossed around by three teenage boys, according to court records.

Three boys, ages 16, 15 and 14, are accused of abusing him.

The 16-year-old, Tyrek D. Varnes of Dame Court, North Charleston, is charged with inflicting great bodily injury upon a child. He was being held by the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice on $80,000 bail, set Thursday by Magistrate Alvin Bligen. Varnes is charged as an adult.

The other teens, whose names were not released, are also in the custody of Juvenile Justice.

Louis' 18-year-old mother also has been jailed, accused of having allowed the abuse to take place. Shakera Wright, of Meeting Street, Charleston, is charged with allowing infliction of great bodily injury upon a child. She was being held in the Charleston County jail on $40,000 bail set Wednesday.

Varnes and Wright face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, if convicted, authorities said.

About 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, North Charleston police were called to Medical University Hospital's pediatric intensive care unit for a report of a child with suspicious injuries.

Doctors told police the baby had swelling to his face, five fractured ribs, bruises on his back and his left and right torso, as well as lacerations to his spleen, liver and pancreas. Doctors also discovered an old skull fracture that had healed.

The officer met with a doctor, social worker and S.C. Department of Social Services representative and was told it appeared the injuries were from having been struck in the back, chest and abdomen.

Wright told the social worker and DSS representative that she was at Varnes' apartment Monday night when he and his friends "play-wrestled" with Louis. She said the friends hit the toddler until she told them to stop and picked him up.

Wright didn't notice anything was wrong until Tuesday morning when Louis woke up and was not playful. His eyes had rolled back. She took him to the hospital on the advice of the baby's father who was not at the home at the time of the alleged abuse.

It's difficult to fathom how inhumane some people are. These animals should never see the light of day. May God help that little boy recover and have a life free from these beasts.