Dustin Boyd Holdaway, 33, is off the streets and will be awaiting trial on two charges of first-degree felony child abuse and one count of torture. Holdaway is being accused of stuffing his girlfriend’s 21-month-old son into a clothes dryer, according to UpNorthLive .
The incident occurred on March 27 at the home of the boy and his mother, who has not been named, in the Green Lake Township in Michigan. The mother awoke at 7:30 a.m. to her child screaming. When she checked on her son, she found his face a bloody mess. When she attempted to clean the boy’s face up, his skin started peeling away.
The child was rushed to the Munson Medical Center in Grand Rapids. He was later transported to DeVos Children’s Hospital where Doctor N.D. Simms examined the boy. Athens Daily Review obtained transcripts of an interview with the doctor. Dr. Simms examined photos of the clothes dryer and compared them to the burns and bruises on the young boy’s skin. The photographs are consistent with the marks.
The mother said she had put her son down without incident the night before. She also mentioned they were alone that night. She told police that Holdaway had joked with her about “putting the child in the dryer” before. The child is in foster care at the moment. His body has burns over 25 percent of his body.
Holdaway is currently being held on $500,000 bond. The Michigan State Police are also considering charging the mother in the case. At this moment, a decision has not been made according to Grand Traverse County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg. Moeggenberg has also stated the boy is doing fine.
If convicted, Holdaway could receive a minimum of 32 years in prison. He could receive a maximum sentence of 70 years. Dustin Boyd Holdaway is a native of Grand Traverse, Colorado.
This incident begs the question of what responsibility the mother has in this case. Again, her name has not been mentioned pending the decision on whether she too will be charged with some form of negligence. What do you think her fate should be? Should she be considered a victim who just picked the wrong guy, or should she be held responsible for not protecting her child well enough? Regardless of her fate, if Dustin Boyd Holdaway is convicted of felony abuse charges, he will not have the opportunity to hurt a child for a very long time.
[Photo by UpNorthLive ]