Parents arrested after father allegedly breaks 6-year-old child’s arm 'out of anger'

TIPTON COUNTY, Tenn. (TCD) -- Deputies have arrested a couple on suspicion of abusing their 6-year-old daughter in "unfit living conditions" and leaving three puppies in extreme heat without proper food or water.

According to Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley, on June 30, a nurse practitioner at a local medical facility contacted 911 after she saw a child patient and "became suspicious about a possible child abuse situation." She reportedly received "conflicting statements about a particular injury," and referred the child to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital for immediate care.

A Tipton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division detective interviewed hospital staff at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, who confirmed the child had a "severe injury." Staff also said the girl’s mother accompanied her to the hospital.

The detective reportedly responded to the parents’ home on Holly Grove Road and spoke with the victim’s father and mother, Samuel Roy and Tiffany Roy, both 39. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the detective learned the child had sustained a broken arm caused from the "torque of a twisting motion."

Samuel Roy reportedly admitted to the detective he injured his daughter "out of anger." Tiffany Roy corroborated the statement and confessed that she lied to law enforcement, medical staff, and the Department of Children’s Services about her daughter’s broken arm to protect her husband.

Inside the couple’s home, authorities also reportedly found three feces-covered puppies confined to a small cage without food or sanitary water in extreme heat. Animal Control took custody of the 3-week-old puppies for appropriate housing and care.

The Sheriff’s Office arrested Samuel and Tiffany Roy on charges of aggravated child abuse, a class A felony, and animal cruelty. Samuel remains held on $20,000 bond, while Tiffany’s bond was set at $10,000. The pair is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 8.

According to WREG-TV, the 6-year-old victim has two siblings who were also in the home. The Department of Children’s Services placed the kids with relatives.

Beasley said in a statement, "Cases like these are sickening. Our hearts break for this 6-year-old child, as well as the other children, in what appears to be unfit living conditions within the home."

MORE:

• Couple Charged with Aggravated Child Abuse and Animal Cruelty — Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley 
• Tipton County couple charged with child, animal abuse — WREG