A family in North Carolina has been arrested for allegedly killing their four-year-old adopted son, Skyler Wilson.
With the help of the Surry County Department of Social Services, the police department detained Jodi and Joseph Wilson.
Abusive North Carolina parents
According to Fox News, an investigator from the sheriff's office met with a doctor, who revealed that the boy had suffered hypoxic brain damage. This type of injury occurs when a limitation stops oxygen from reaching the brain.
The physician, who had spoken with Joseph Wilson, informed the detective that Skyler's brain damage was likely caused by excessive restraint during this alleged swaddling.
The boy died at Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem on January 9, days after he was admitted.
According to the adoptive father, his wife sent him a text message at about 5:30 P.M. to let him know that something had gone wrong while Skyler was being swaddled and that something was wrong with his arms.
Additionally, she forwarded a photo that showed Skyler bound to the floor of the Wilsons' living room with duct tape while he was face down and covered with some sheet or blanket.
When they arrived at the hospital, the father told the attending physician that they had tucked Skyler into the wagon that served as his bed at around 6:45 P.M.
They added that they heard him moving around a little while later and tried to relocate him.
After Skyler was knocked to the ground, he placed the boy on the couch, where he seemed immobile and half-responsive.
They immediately took him to the hospital, but he eventually died.
Skyler Wilson's previous foster family
The law enforcement officials revealed that the previous foster parent of Skyler and his brother Vance Wilson reported the disturbing things that she heard the mother, Jodi, talk about.
The Wilsons also adopted Vance. Before officially being adopted as the Wilsons, the kids were known as Skyler and Vance Bowles.
The investigators interviewed the former foster parent, who confirmed some of the abusive traits that the family usually practices.
As per The Tribune, she said that Jodi Wilson informed her that she still swaddles Skyler. Aside from that, she also practices food restriction and exorcism and gives Skyler a lot of alone time.
In addition, she mentioned that Vance had begun to refuse to walk alone.
The police officials also discovered that the former foster parent reported the questionable behavior of the adoptive parents.
On December 7, 2021, the previous foster mother expressed her concerns to a care worker with the Surry County Department of Social Services. She was anxious about the children's well-being.
She was instructed to submit a formal report, which she did on the same day. Additionally, the officers from the police department indicated that the phone records validated the time she reported the incident.
According to Fox 8, in September 2021, Skyler and Vance Wilson were given to the Wilson family to care for, and before the placement of the two boys, the Wilson family had fostered three other children.
The couple is charged with the death of their adopted son with no bond.
Furthermore, their four children, three of whom were biological and one of whom was adopted, were placed in the custody of social services.
