An indictment was handed down on May 26 by the Logan County Grand Jury against 25-year-old Brandon Lee Soyars of Russellville, relative to an investigation conducted by Detective Tina Kitchens of the Logan County Sheriff's Department.

Soyars is being charged with assault first degree, which is a class B felony. According to his indictment, Soyars intentionally caused serious physical injury to a six-month-old infant by shaking the baby, causing him to have seizures, retina hemorrhages and sub dural hematoma, commonly called “shaken baby syndrome.”

According to a news release from the Logan County Sheriff's Department, the investigation began April 11 after the Sheriff's Department was notified the baby was being treated at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville for head injuries suspected to have occurred by violent baby shaken syndrome.

Detective Kitchens, assisted by Jennifer Goodnight of Department of Community Based Services, traveled to Nashville to begin the investigation. The child was diagnosed with and is being treated for two sub dural hematomas and retinal hemorrhages in the Vanderbilt Pediatric Critical Care Service Unit.

According to the release, Detective Kitchens through the investigative process gained facts that during the early hours of April 9 Soyars allegedly caused the child's injuries during a time that the child's mother, Kelly Sears, 24, of Russellville had returned from work and was sleeping. Soyars was living with Sears at the time of the incident.

The infant is currently living with his grandmother, Wilda Wilhite of Russellville, who has temporary custody of him and his three-year-old brother. “I've heard of this happening on television but I never thought it could happen to my grandchild. I never would think anybody would do something like that,” said a distraught Wilhite, adding she was told he was “everything but dead.”

According to Wilhite, doctors said her grandchild had suffered two separate injuries, an old one and the recent one. She said doctors told them the baby was blind and they didn't know if he would regain his sight because of the massive injury. He also has undergone five surgeries and had a stint placed in his head to help drain the build up of fluid on his brain. Wilhite said he has a pick line in his arm where he received medication throughout the day.

The infant was able to come home from the hospital on Sunday, May 28, but according to Wilhite, has to go back to Vanderbilt often for checkups.

“I will keep him as long as he needs me,” said an emotional Wilhite, who confesses it is not easy but she wouldn't do anything else.

Wilhite admits she hopes if Soyars is found guilty of hurting her grandson that the judicial system gives him what he deserves. She also hopes people realize that this kind of abuse is going on and wants them to be aware of the signs before it is too late.

Soyars' next court appearance is scheduled for June 22. He is currently being held in the Logan County Detention Center on $50,000 cash bond.