Court dates set for Blackwell couple accused of child abuse

NEWKIRK — Court dates are set for two Blackwell residents facing felony charges of child abuse in Kay County District Court.

Kylie Dawn Swopes-Dill, 23, Blackwell, is facing felony charges of child abuse and enabling child abuse.  Ethan Bryant Dill, 26, Blackwell, is facing a felony charge of child abuse. Both are being held in the county jail on $250,000 bond.

Blackwell police report in the affidavit that on April 8 officers responded at 4:03 p.m. to the 1000 block of S. Main for a report of a baby submerged in water and not responding.

The child was taken to Blackwell hospital before being airlifted to OU Medical.

Police spoke to Kylie who reportedly said she was giving three kids a bath at the same time. She claimed that she took the youngest out of the tub and then heard a thump. She told police that she turned around and saw the 11-month old face down in the water.

On April 11, police and Department of Human Services held a conference call with a child abuse specialist at OU.

Dr. Larissa Hines reportedly told investigators that the child had a large subdrual hematoma and skull fracture.  Hines noted that the claim of a fall in the bath tub is not consistent with the extent of the injuries. “To a reasonable degree of medical certainty the injuries described can’t plausibly be explained by accidental injury,” said Hines.

Police conducted a taped interview with Kylie.

After repeating her story about the fall in the bathtub, she reportedly changed her story.

Police report that she said stated that she went to change the child’s diaper and that she put the child down hard on the floor. She described the floor as concrete with carpet. She reportedly told police that the incident occurred at 10:30 a.m. She reportedly stated that after the incident the child did not eat or drink and seemed to be dazed. Her husband reportedly called at 11:30 a.m. to check on things but she did not tell him about the incident.

Police continued to question her and report that she added to the story.

She reportedly said that she sat the child down really hard, and that she lost her balance and “kind of went down” on the child, landing on a leg.

Police asked her if she lied to them at the hospital and she reportedly said that she did not tell the truth but added that the child did fall in the tub and hit his head.

Capt. Jay Brewer reports in the affidavit that text messages were found in which Kylie reportedly admits to watching Ethan abuse the child many times.

On May 5, Brewer interviewed Kylie again and she reportedly said she has watched Ethan get mad because the child is crying. She told police that she has witnessed Ethan punch the child in the stomach with a closed fist at least five times and step on the child’s head barefoot. She said she never reported this incidents to police or DHS.

She reportedly told Brewer that she did not know how to report the incidents and that she did not know the phone number to police.

Brewer reportedly asked why she didn’t call 911 and she said she had no place to go. Brewer reportedly interviewed Ethan who was present with an attorney.

He reportedly denies the allegations. Both are scheduled for status dockets.