Columbus, OH – A 30-year-old mother has been arrested after allegedly throwing her 9-month-old child across a room, leaving the infant in critical condition, police reported. The mother, Billie Jo Tustin, faces charges of felonious assault resulting in serious harm to the victim.
Incident and Emergency Response
Emergency personnel from the Columbus Division of Fire responded around 5 p.m. on Wednesday to a home on the 900 block of North 4th Street in the Italian Village neighborhood, after reports of an unresponsive infant. First responders located the child and transported him to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he was admitted in extremely critical condition.
Hospital staff determined the child’s injuries were “not consistent with an accident” and alerted law enforcement.
Police Investigation and Arrest
At approximately 6:30 p.m., officers from the Columbus Division of Police arrived at the home and began investigating a suspicious injury to the infant. Several adults and a toddler at the residence were reportedly unharmed.
Court documents obtained that Tustin allegedly admitted to throwing the infant across a 15-foot room, causing the child to land on his head and suffer multiple traumatic injuries.
She reportedly also confessed to throwing the child shorter distances multiple times, as well as spanking and slapping him in the face when frustrated.
Severity and Homicide Unit Involvement
The child’s injuries were so serious that the Columbus police homicide unit was assigned to investigate. A police spokesperson confirmed the infant remained on life support in critical condition, and officers are treating the home as a potential crime scene.
“We’re not sure if he’s going to pull through, so we want to make sure we are doing everything we can, if this is in fact a crime scene, that we figure out exactly what happened,” said Sgt. James Fuqua.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Tustin is being held without bond at the James A. Karnes Corrections Center. She is scheduled for arraignment at Franklin County Municipal Court on Sept. 19.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident and urged anyone with information to contact the Columbus Division of Police.
Community Safety Reminder
Law enforcement emphasized the importance of reporting suspected child abuse immediately, as early intervention can save lives. Families are reminded that emergency services are available for children in distress and that authorities take all reports seriously.
Share your thoughts on child safety and community awareness in the comments below, and stay updated on Columbus news and ongoing investigations.
