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A newborn girl, Elynn Enneper, entered the world weighing a healthy 6lbs 11oz, seemingly destined for a bright future. This promising beginning, however, took a devastating turn just three months later in a shocking incident of child abuse that inflicted severe brain injury.
Infant Suffers Critical Injuries After Father’s Admission of Abuse
At three months old, Elynn experienced a horrific ordeal. Vincent, her father, confessed to authorities that in a moment of frustration at home, he intentionally dropped his infant daughter onto a hard floor in an attempt to stop her from crying.
Severe Trauma and Emergency Intervention
The impact resulted in multiple skull fractures, triggering internal hemorrhaging and causing displacement of her brain. Elynn’s condition became critical, and medical professionals initially feared for her survival when she began experiencing seizures in the hospital.
Emergency surgery to alleviate pressure by draining fluid accumulating around her brain proved crucial and ultimately saved her life.
Long-Term Health Consequences and Father’s Legal Repercussions
Now five years old, Elynn confronts a life irrevocably altered by this traumatic event. The infant trauma has left her with permanent disabilities, including blindness in her right eye, cerebral palsy, and significantly impaired mobility.
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Adding to the family tragedy, Elynn’s father faced legal consequences for his actions. Vincent was convicted and sentenced to a decade in prison for child abuse resulting in substantial bodily harm, and neglect.
National statistics from the Brain Injury Association of America highlight the severity of this issue, revealing that among children aged 0 to 14, injuries stemming from abuse, accidents, and sports lead to approximately 2,685 fatalities, 37,000 hospitalizations, and 435,000 emergency room visits annually.
Father’s Confession and Mother’s Discovery
While acknowledging the frequency of accidents involving young children, Elynn’s father, who was 25 at the time, later admitted to intentionally dropping her. He stated his actions were triggered by ‘frustration and tiredness’ and a misguided attempt to silence her crying.
In a formal statement, he detailed, ‘In a fleeting moment, the thought entered my mind to simply drop her, thinking it might stop her crying… and that’s what I did. I just let her go.’
Vincent recounted that after dropping Elynn, he gave her milk, and she subsequently fell asleep. He claimed not to have observed any immediate injuries.
However, upon returning home from work on January 8, 2020, Elynn’s mother, Jordan, immediately recognized that something was gravely wrong.
Vincent, her then-husband, had been responsible for the care of Elynn and their other child, Carl.
Horrifying Scene and Rushed Hospitalization
Stepping into her residence, the mother of two was horrified to discover Elynn on the floor, her face visibly ‘bulging’ and the back of her head ‘flattened.’
Driven by fear for her daughter’s life, Jordan urgently transported Elynn to a medical facility, where a CT scan confirmed the devastating extent of her injuries: multiple skull fractures and a serious brain injury.
Elynn was then airlifted to a children’s hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for specialized emergency treatment and placed in a medically induced coma to stabilize her condition.
Conflicting Accounts and Arrest
Initially, the 28-year-old mother recounted that Vincent maintained he had accidentally dropped their daughter while attempting to feed her with a bottle.
Nevertheless, Jordan stated that Vincent was apprehended, and she asserts that both Child Protective Services and a detective informed her that he had deliberately inflicted the injuries.
Elynn’s Present Condition and Mother’s Advocacy
Today, Elynn lives with disabilities and learning difficulties. Jordan is bravely sharing their story to raise public awareness about the lasting repercussions of Vincent’s actions on his daughter’s life.
Just over a year following the incident, Vincent received a 10-year prison sentence in April 2021 for child abuse – recklessly causing grievous bodily harm – and child neglect resulting in significant bodily harm.
Recounting the Events and Maternal Instincts
Recalling the sequence of events on the fateful day, Jordan stated, ‘I entered the house to find Elynn playing on the floor, Carl was playing in his room, and my now ex-husband was sitting on the couch awaiting my return.’
‘I immediately sensed something was amiss. As he picked up Elynn to show me her face, I saw the severity of it. The side of her face was swollen, and the back of her head appeared flat.’
‘She was extremely pale and unresponsive, and her eyes were repeatedly twitching to the left – she was actively suffering seizures.’
‘Looking at my ex-husband, overwhelmed with fear, Vincent offered his version of events. He claimed he was holding her and accidentally dropped her while preparing a bottle as she was squirming.’
‘At that moment, my maternal instincts kicked in. I went into protective mode, focused solely on getting my daughter to the hospital safely, fearing he might try to prevent me as she was clearly in critical condition.’
Police Involvement and Hospital Confirmation
According to the official criminal complaint, Children’s Wisconsin in Wauwatosa contacted law enforcement authorities due to the severity of Elynn’s head trauma.
After Jordan was interviewed by CPS and a detective at the hospital, she was permitted to see her daughter, and Vincent was formally arrested.
Jordan recounted, ‘They [CPS and the detective] swiftly understood my lack of involvement. The detective then escorted me upstairs to see my daughter.’
‘Entering her room and seeing her, I vomited. It was the most horrific sight I have ever witnessed. At that moment, I was terrified that my daughter was going to die.’
Extended Hospital Stay and Surgical Interventions
Elynn remained hospitalized for a month, being discharged on February 7, 2020. Since then, she has required further major surgeries to address the full extent of her injuries.
Remarkable Resilience and Continued Challenges
Jordan shared, ‘Doctors initially doubted Elynn’s survival. She was experiencing frequent seizures and required surgery to drain excess fluid from around her brain.’
Following the insertion of drains, Elynn began to show signs of improvement, opening her eyes.
Jordan stated, ‘When she opened her eyes, it was the first indication that my daughter would recover. She progressively gained strength each day.’
Despite ‘defying expectations,’ Jordan emphasizes that her ex-husband’s actions have fundamentally altered her daughter’s life, and she expresses relief at his imprisonment.
Court records indicate that Vincent, aged 25 at the time of the incident, received a 10-year prison sentence, followed by a five-year extended supervision period and three years of probation.
During sentencing, Vincent’s defense attorney quoted him as claiming he dropped Elynn in the misguided belief that it would ‘maybe get her to stop crying.’
Mother Reflects on Trust and Anger
Jordan stated, ‘I had spoken to Vincent three times and exchanged text messages with him that day.’
‘Prior to that moment, I had no concerns about leaving him alone at home with the children. He was their father and had never previously displayed any physical aggression towards anyone.’
However, Jordan acknowledged Vincent’s underlying temper, describing him as ‘a very angry person.’
Jordan reflected, ‘In a way, it was almost easy to accept what he did, because deep down, I already knew he was capable of it.’
‘This has been my reality for years, and I face the enduring consequences of his actions every day with my disabled daughter.’
‘The brain injury predominantly affected the left hemisphere of her brain, impacting the entire right side of her body.’
‘Her hearing on the right side is unaffected, but she experiences visual impairments, lacking peripheral and lower peripheral vision on her right side. We are constantly learning about the extent of her visual limitations.’
Jordan confirmed Elynn’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy and developmental delays relative to her peers.
The concerned mother also mentioned undergoing evaluations for autism for Elynn, considering the impact of her injury on brain function.
Triumphs Amidst Adversity and Hope for the Future
Jordan further explained, ‘She was unable to walk for an extended period and underwent a second leg surgery in August of last year to aid her mobility.’
‘The overwhelming joy I felt when she began walking was one of the most profoundly emotional moments of my life.’
‘I had waited years for this milestone, unsure if she would ever walk. While still somewhat unsteady, she can now get up and play with her brother. She does walk with a noticeable limp, however.’
‘I feel justice has been served. I never want him [Vincent] to see them [Elynn and Carl], and with a 20-year absence, I feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence in having protected my children.’
‘Despite all she has endured, Elynn has defied all odds. Considering her experiences, she remains a remarkably happy child.’