Police: Text Messages Show Claremore Mother Knew Boyfriend Was Abusing Sons

Police arrested a Claremore couple on child abuse charges after doctors at a Tulsa hospital became suspicious about injuries to an 11-week-old boy.

Officers arrested Taylor Mayfield, 25, and Brittney Wallace, 23, the mother of the children.

On Friday, May 13, 2016, emergency room personnel at a Tulsa hospital told police they were treating two children they suspected were the victims of abuse. The 11-week-old boy was being treated for a broken bone, hemorrhages in his eyes, a probable brain bleed and other injuries, they told police.

They said they were also treating a 21-month-old boy for a possible broken leg, burns on his feet and chest as well as bruises on many parts of his body including his genitals.

 According to the probable cause statement from Claremore Police, Mayfield told officers he lived with Wallace and her three children in an apartment in Claremore and that he cared for the children while Wallace was at work, including the afternoon and night before.

Police said Mayfield told them he didn't harm the children and instead blamed the injuries on accidents and Wallace's 5-year-old son. 

Wallace told police that Mayfield was not responsible for the injuries to her children.

Police said they searched Wallace's cell phone and found a text message on May 10, 2016, in which she told Mayfield that slapping around her 21-month-old son and marking him up had to stop. In another message she told Mayfield to stop pinching the boy's private part. 

Mayfield was arrested on one count of child abuse after previous conviction of a felony. According to the Department of Corrections, Mayfield served a year in prison for eluding police and assaulting an officer and was still on probation in the case. 

Wallace was arrested on one count of enabling child abuse.