Trenton teen charged with child abuse after posting shocking photos online

GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. — “I have babies, and I think it’s pure craziness,” said concerned mother Holly Burge. “I don’t understand why anyone would do that to a child.”

Many in Gibson County are  shocked as deputies charge the 15-year-old brother of a little girl shown bound with duct tape with two counts of aggravated child abuse.  That’s because officers say the teen did the same thing to a 6-month-old, both younger siblings of the boy.

“He needs help now,” Burge said. “Something’s not right that he’s tying his sisters up. Something’s not right about that.”

Officers say the pictures appeared Sunday on the brother’s Facebook page. He told them it was a joke.

“It’s not funny. There’s nothing funny about it,” Burge said.

The sheriff says despite the appearance, neither of the young girls were hurt and are doing fine. Although a court date hasn’t yet been set, the juvenile responsible for these photos will appear in the Gibson County Juvenile Court. Because he is just 15 and charged as a juvenile, his name will not be made public.

“Since he’s a juvenile the process is a little different,” Gibson County Sheriff Paul Thomas said. “Typically they are set a court date to report in. Under these circumstances they may be a little different. He may have to go in front of a judge a bit sooner than normal.”

Sheriff Thomas tells us the 15-year-old boy is no longer living in the home with his younger siblings. He said this arrest wouldn’t have been possible without the help of concerned residents.