A mum has been arrested after her 20-month-old child was found to be missing toenails and fingernails during a hospital visit, police have said.
The child, who has not been named, was brought to Vidant Medical Center in Pitt County, North Carolina, with health concerns.
Doctors ran tests on the child, and it was discovered the kid had tested positive for ingesting methamphetamine and cocaine, according to an arrested warrant obtained by WCTI.
Medics also noted the toddler was missing toenails and fingernails on all hands and feet, Crime Online reports.
Police have since launched an investigation into the circumstances that led to the child's injuries and how the 20-month-old came to be at the hospital.
The child's mother, 30-year-old Nikki Manning, was arrested by Pitt County Sheriff Department and charged with felony child abuse.
In the state of North Carolina, felony child abuse carries a sentence of anywhere from 1 year to life imprisonment if found guilty.
Upon release, parents also lose complete custody of their child and visitation rights in extreme cases.
A guilty verdict will also mean an individual would be placed on the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry for life.
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In a statement, police said: "Pitt County Sheriff Department announce Manning’s arrest on Facebook, in the post the force said: “On 10/05/2020 the Pitt Count Sheriff’s Office receive a report of an abused child, prompting an investigation.
"The juvenile victim had been taken to the Children’s Emergency Department at Vidant Medical Center.
"Hospital staff alerted the Pitt County Department of Social Services due to finding multiple serious injuries on the child, to include the loss of multiple fingernails and toenails.
"Further investigation discovered that the child was also positive for the presence of narcotics.
"The child’s mother, Nikki Manning, 30, of Greenville was arrested on November 10, 2020, and booked in the Pitt County Detence Center on one charge of Felony Child Abuse Inflicting Serious Physical Injury.
"She was released after positive a $75,00 secured bond."
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