5-month-old suffers skull fractures, hospitalized in Jacksonville; father charged

A Valdosta man has been arrested for child cruelty in the 1st degree.

Shortly before 4 P.M. on May 2, Valdosta Police Officers responded to a residence in the 1500 block of East Park Avenue. The Lowndes County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) requested the officers' assistance.

When officers arrived at the home, they were told by a DFCS employee, that they were investigating a possible case of cruelty to children.

The DFCS employee told authorities that they had been contacted by Florida DFCS regarding a five-month-old baby in a hospital in Jacksonville, with skull fractures.

DFCS was told that the baby's family lived at the residence on East Park Avenue.

Valdosta Police Department Detectives were notified and responded to assist in the investigation.

Through investigation, detectives determined the father of the child, Jasion Greathouse, had told the DFCS employee that while he was watching the baby, she had fallen.

According to Valdosta police, the baby was taken for medical care the day after the fall, but her condition was not improving. The mother of the baby took her to a children’s specialist hospital in Jacksonville because her condition showed no improvement and appeared to be worsening.

Detectives spoke with medical personnel at the hospital, and the doctor reported that the baby had multiple fractures throughout her body. Doctors stated that the injuries were non-accidental injuries.

Throughout the investigation, detectives worked in conjunction with DFCS and the South Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

On May 17, an arrest warrant was obtained for Jasion Greathouse for aggravated battery (felony) and cruelty to children in the 1st degree (felony). Detectives arrested Greathouse at his residence without incident.

Police say the baby is still in the hospital in Jacksonville receiving medical treatment.

"This is a great example of multiple agencies working together to ensure that this offender is held accountable for his actions. We continue to hope for this baby's recovery." said Chief Leslie Manahan.