JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville couple and their babysitter are behind bars after investigators say an infant child suffered a pattern of serious injuries, including a fractured skull.
Zaben Kinard, 30, and his wife Jasmine Kinard, 28, were arrested and booked into the Duval County jail on July 1. Each face three counts of child neglect with great bodily harm, a second-degree felony.
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Their babysitter, Alexus Wortman, 27, faces three counts of aggravated child abuse and two counts of child neglect with great bodily harm.
Infant transported to Wolfson Children’s Hospital
According to the arrest report, investigators were alerted on June 30 that a young child had been transported from Baptist Hospital Town Center to Wolfson Children’s Hospital due to the severity of his injuries.
A Wolfson Children’s Hospital doctor confirmed the child’s injuries included a fractured skull, a brain bleed, a fractured sternum, fractured ribs in different stages of healing, blood pooling in his stomach, and a human bite mark on his left leg, according to Zaben Kinard’s arrest report.
The doctor said the child was in stable condition at the time of the report but warned that further testing could reveal additional injuries and that the child’s condition could decline.
A pattern of injuries ignored, according to investigators
Investigators say the abuse did not happen in a single incident. According to the arrest report, the child was taken to Baptist Hospital Town Center on three separate occasions in June 2026 for unexplained injuries.
On June 11, Kinard and his wife, left the child in the care of their roommate, Wortman, while they went to work. When they returned home, Wortman told them the child’s face was swollen, he had two black eyes and bruising on his legs. According to the report, Kinard asked Wortman what happened but said he “did not really receive an answer.”
Rather than pursue the matter further, Kinard said he allowed his wife to take the child to the hospital, where medical staff attributed the injuries to a possible allergic reaction. Kinard later told detectives he knew the injuries were not from an allergic reaction.
On June 24, the child was again left in Wortman’s care. Wortman sent text messages to the couple saying she had slipped on wet grass and fallen backward while holding the child, causing his head to strike the back of her vehicle, according to JSO.
The child again showed signs of injury, including a swollen face and black eye. The following day, Kinard’s wife took the child back to the hospital — but investigators say she withheld the true cause of the injuries from medical staff, allowing the child to be treated for another suspected allergic reaction.
Zaben Kinard later admitted to detectives he knew the injuries were caused by the fall — and the blunt force trauma — but said he “did not want to rock the boat”, according to his arrest report.
Father admits he knew abuse was occurring, police say
On the morning of June 30, Kinard woke to find the child’s eye swollen shut and the child lethargic. His wife again took the child to Baptist Hospital Town Center, where medical staff discovered the full extent of his injuries.
Detectives interviewed Zaben Kinard at JSO’s Police Memorial Building. After being advised of his Miranda rights — which he waived — Kinard agreed to speak with detectives without an attorney present, according to the arrest report. The interview was recorded.
During the interview, police say Kinard confessed he knew after three incidents that “there was a pattern” and that he had failed to protect the child. He acknowledged that his wife had confronted him multiple times with her suspicion that Wortman was harming the child.
“He began to cry, advising he understood that he was a neglectful [parent],” the report states. “He knew Alexus was lying to his face when she claimed to have not harmed [the child] but chose to ignore that fact, nearly causing [the child’s] death.”
Three suspects arrested
Zaben Kinard, Jasmine Kinard and Wortman were booked into the Duval County jail on July 1.
News4JAX is working to obtain the arrest reports for Alexus Lynn Wortman and Jasmine Kinard.
This is a developing story.