Thomas Campo, 44, of Haverhill will serve 15-30 years in prison after pleading guilty this past Tuesday to 20 charges of first and second degree assault on his infant triplets. The infants were just a few weeks old when the first injuries occurred.
The babies were born on April 6, 2009 and from the time they returned home from the hospital with their mother, Zoya, until September, the infants suffered severely traumatic injuries such as being shaken, bitten, and having ribs broken. The Campos were living in Plaistow, NH when the abuse took place.
Campo shook one or more of the infants, fracturing the skull of one of the babies. One of the infants was “squeezed” so violently by Campo that ribs were broken. He bit one of the babies on the stomach when the baby was not even a month old. Campo canceled a home visit by a doctor in order for the bite not to be seen. He also would take one of the infants into another room, locking the door, and would not let Zoya into the room. She stated that the baby would cry louder from the other room.
In September of 2009, Zoya took one of the infants to an area hospital for a separate issue. When doctors noted bruising on the child, they notified the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Once she was interviewed, she admitted that Campo was responsible for the injuries and he was then arrested.
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
In tragic instances of Shaken Baby Syndrome, the victims who are most at-risk are newborns and babies up to the age of 4 months.
Serious injuries can occur if an infant is shaken even one time because the neck is in its first stages of development and is incredibly delicate. A baby’s neck is not strong enough to withstand the trauma.
The CDC reports that approximately 3,000 babies are victims of SBS and it is estimated that 25% of victims die every year from the devastating injuries. About 60% of SBS victims will experience traumatic brain injuries, which can result in lifelong disabilities.
When You Need to Talk to a Massachusetts Injury Lawyer
If your child has been seriously hurt by another, you shouldn’t have to pay for ongoing medical care and treatment. A serious head or brain injury may require lifelong care and financial support. Accepting a settlement offer without the guidance of a skilled Massachusetts injury lawyer can leave you and your child ill prepared for the road ahead. Your child deserves a legal team who is experienced in handling child brain injury cases in Massachusetts and one who can ensure that he or she will receive fair compensation for his or her brain injury.
Before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, or agree to a settlement offer, schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 800-930-8145. You can also learn more about how to best handle your child’s injury by requesting a FREE copy of our Massachusetts child injury book.
