The parents of a 16-day-old Hurricane girl who died of multiple injuries in June of last year have been indicted on murder charges by a Putnam County grand jury, Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney Kristina Raynes announced Tuesday.
Brooke N. Kessler and Jacob G. Kessler both face charges of murder of a child by parent by refusal or failure to supply medical care; death of a child by parent by child abuse; child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury; child neglect resulting in death and malicious assault.
Brooke Kessler was arrested by State ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ last June on charges of death of a child by parent or guardian, child abuse causing serious bodily injury, strangulation and malicious assault.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Putnam County Magistrate Court, on June 20, 2024, the KesslersÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ infant daughter was taken by ambulance to Charleston Area Medical CenterÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Teays Valley Hospital, where she was found to have multiple broken ribs, a broken arm and bruising around the throat. The baby was then transferred to CAMC Women and ChildrenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Hospital in Charleston, where she died early the following day.
In November, a Putnam County grand jury indicted Brooke Kessler on charges of causing the death of a child by abuse; child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury; child neglect resulting in death; strangulation; malicious assault and domestic battery.
Raynes re-presented the case to the Putnam County grand jury this month, successfully seeking a superseding indictment that included the childÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s father, Jacob Kessler.
Both Jacob and Brooke Kessler are being held as pre-trial felony defendants. Jacob Kessler is currently at Central Regional Jail in Flatwoods. Brooke Kessler is currently in Western Regional Jail in Barboursville.
Rick Steelhammer is a features reporter. He can be reached at 304-348-5169 or rsteelhammer@hdmediallc.com. Follow @ on X.
