JONESBORO, Ark. — A Jonesboro woman has been arrested on multiple felony charges after police say an infant was hospitalized with injuries inconsistent with an accidental fall.
Liberty Yates Thompson, 22, was arrested and charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, a Class D felony, and first-degree domestic battering, a Class B felony, according to a probable cause affidavit.
An on-call detective responded Jan. 24, 2026, at approximately 12:20 p.m. to St. Bernards Emergency Department in reference to an injured child. Upon arrival, officers made contact with Thompson, who stated she had slipped and fallen in the snow while holding her 8-month-old son and dropped him down the stairs of her home.
Police reported the child had several other bruises on his head, legs and torso, which appeared to be of varying ages. The child was transported to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis for further treatment.
According to the affidavit, medical staff at Le Bonheur reported the injuries sustained were not consistent with the fall Thompson described and appeared to be the result of intentional abuse.
In a Mirandized interview, Thompson admitted she initially lied and later stated she dropped the child in the snow after throwing him into the air on Jan. 22, 2026, causing him to hit his head from approximately 5 to 6 feet in the air. Thompson stated she did not initially seek medical attention despite seeing swelling on the child’s head.
The affidavit states Thompson later admitted she did not seek medical care because she was on probation and feared she would get in trouble. Thompson also admitted poking the child in the chest too hard while upset, causing bruising, and throwing a 2×4 during an argument with her boyfriend on Jan. 22, 2026, which missed him and struck the child in the head.
Thompson was taken into custody without incident.
Judge David Boling set Thompson’s bond at $250,000 cash or surety, noting Thompson is currently on probation for a burglary conviction and has a prior failure to appear. The court also ordered Thompson to wear a GPS ankle monitor.
Her next court date is scheduled for March 20.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline may be reached by calling 1-800-482-5964.
The Family Crisis Center, Inc. is a local resource available to help if you’re in need.
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