Lenoir County Sheriff's Department: Felony child abuse arrest

According to a press release from the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Department, on December 10, 2019, Lenoir County Deputies responded to a residence on Hwy 258 North in Kinston for a reported disturbance. Deputies investigated and found the male subject of the home had fled before their arrival. A female was still present. When deputies entered the residence, they found a four year old child who had been severely abused. The child was transported by Lenoir County EMS for treatment and detectives conducted the investigation.

After gathering photographs, conducting interviews and piecing the information together, the facts showed the child had been in the custody of her mother and the mothers boyfriend at their home and they had physically abused her and never took her for medical aid.

Sheriff Ronnie Ingram stated, "I am appalled by this crime. It makes me sick to know that someone could do what they did to this child. A four-year-old child can not protect themselves...but they are not supposed to have to. Children trust their parents/or caregivers and they believe they are there protectors. In this case, the child is safe now only because the suspects that did this and/or allowed it to go on without getting help are behind bars to face their charges."

Casey Lynn Wood, the mother of the victim, was arrested and charged with Felony Child Abuse and was confined in the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office Detention Center under at $200,000 secured bond.

James Dean Smith, the boyfriend of Casey Wood, was arrested after he was located in Greene County and charged with Felony Child abused and an order for arrest as a probation violation absconder. The Greene County Sheriff's Office, NCDPS Probation and the NCSBI assisted in the arrest of Smith. He was confined in the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office Detention Center under a $250,000 secured bond.

Sheriff Ingram went on to commend his staff, EMS and the other agencies that helped in this investigation. "These investigations are very hard for our staff in the emergency services field. We see a lot of crimes where victims have to go through things, but this type of crime hurts our people mentally. The law enforcement, social workers and medical staff fought through their pain and sorrow to help this child and apprehend the people who did this." Sheriff Ingram said that Lenoir County EMS, Lenoir County DSS Child Protective Services and the Kinston Police Department assisted in the investigation and care for the child.