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Cook/Frasier charged under Haley's Law
A Newport couple face charges under Haley's Law, in connection with the Aggravated Child Abuse of their three-month-old daughter. Cocke County Sheriff Armando Fontes announced Monday that Marissa Cook, 22 and Michael Frasier, 21, Woodlawn Avenue, Newport, were arrested on May 8 following an investigation by Detectives Lieutenant Eric Ramsey and Robert Thornton. Bonds for the couple are set at $500,000 each. The warrants in the case say the three-month-old currently is hospitalized in an intensive care unit at a children's hospital, "with very severe injuries". Kyland Frasier reportedly has bleeding from the brain as well as numerous broken ribs. The investigators say Cook told them that "she was overstressed and had a lack of sleep, and simply lost her cool and grabbed the infant and squeezed it and shook the baby," the warrant says. Investigators say there is another incident in which Cook has been accused of assaulting the infant. According to the detectives, physicians at the children's hospital say the injuries are not accidental in nature, and have confirmed the incident as related in Cook's confession. Frasier told the officers he saw one of the assault incidents. He became aware that the child had injuries but did not report them, and so he also is charged. Investigators say the injuries to Kyland are expected to be permanent. Haley's Law, constitutes aggravated child abuse or aggravated child neglect, and the law makes it a Class A Felony to abuse a child who is under the age of 9 in a way that leads to bodily injury. A Class A felony is punishable by a minimum 15-year sentence with a maximum of 60 years or life in prison. Under the law, the serious bodily injury means bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death and carries with it enhanced punishment. Haley's Law was passed following a 2004 case in East Tennessee. "Baby Haley" was badly abused with burns all over her body when she was found. Her eyes were swollen shut and her ears bleeding, however she has made a dramatic recovery.
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