9-year-old described as ‘Mom’s little man’ died with massive brain bleed, BBs embedded in kidney

CLEVELAND COUNTY, Okla. (TCN) -- A mother and her partner are in custody after a 9-year-old boy died at a hospital from injuries consistent with long-term abuse.

On April 8, Ruger Boude presented at the hospital with injuries later determined to have stemmed from severe abuse, the Oklahoma City Free Press reports. Hospital staff contacted police, who interviewed the child’s mother, 38-year-old Alicia Busey, and her boyfriend, 42-year-old Steven Duty. 

After Boude’s death two days following hospital admission, his manner of death was ruled a homicide. The Oklahoma City Police Department announced the arrests of Busey and Duty on May 4. They were booked into jail on second-degree murder and child abuse counts.

According to an arrest affidavit, Law & Crime reports that when Boude was admitted to the hospital, he had a collapsed left lung. While undergoing surgery, doctors found that he also had a massive brain bleed. He died two days later. When Busey was interviewed about this, she alleged the injuries came from a fight with an older brother.

An autopsy found Boude had bruises throughout his body in various stages of healing, a broken wrist, and BBs embedded throughout his soft tissue, including a kidney. Other children in the home were examined, and they also had BBs embedded in their bodies and multiple fractures in various stages of healing, which doctors said indicated long-term abuse.

The obituary for Boude describes him as strong, energetic, and spiritual. It reads, “Being around Ruger taught those who knew him empathy and what true love really looks like. He will be remembered as a ‘big boy helper’ and ‘Mom’s little man.’”

According to the Oklahoma City Free Press, bond was set at $5 million each for both Busey and Duty. Law & Crime reports that their preliminary hearings are scheduled for May 26.

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