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Details released on child abuse charge

Man also charged with animal torture

Michael Anthony Madril

ESCANABA — Additional information has been released on an Escanaba man and the child abuse charge he is facing. A 3-year-old boy in the man’s care suffered hypothermia after wandering outside. The man had fallen asleep after taking drugs, according to the Escanaba Public Safety Department.

The man, Michael Anthony Madril, 27, is also the person who has been charged with animal torture after allegedly severely injuring a puppy in December. The animal torture case against Madril came to light after a severely abused puppy was found on Dec. 20 and brought to the Delta Animal Shelter. The puppy had been found at the end of a dirt road in Rock, unable to walk.

After the puppy was examined, the injuries were suspected to have been caused by animal abuse. The puppy was euthanized Dec. 21 because of the severity of its injuries, including multiple fractures. All four of the puppy’s legs had been broken.

Madril was officially charged with animals – killing/torturing, a four-year felony, in Delta County District Court Wednesday.

The child abuse case against Madril occurred on Jan. 13. He was arraigned on the child abuse – second degree charge on Jan. 14. He was still in jail being held on bond when the warrant for his arrest on the animal torture case was issued.

Friday, in a press release issued by Escanaba Public Safety Det. Lt. Darin Hunter, the department released additional information about Madril’s child abuse charge.

On Sunday, Jan. 13, at approximately 6:50 p.m., Delta County Central Dispatch received a 911 call on a report of an unresponsive 3-year-old boy at a residence on the 500 block of South 17th Street. Escanaba Public Safety officers and Rampart EMS personnel were dispatched to the residence and were met by Madril carrying the boy to first responders.

Through investigation by Escanaba Public Safety, it was determined Madril was watching the boy, along with his 5 year old brother. Madril admitted to investigators he had fallen asleep for an unknown amount of time. When he awoke, could not initially find the toddler.

Madril told investigators he looked through the house until seeing the back door slightly opened. He opened the door to find the toddler lying on the ground at the bottom of the steps clothed in only his diaper. Madril called the boy’s mother at work, who in turn called 911. Madril admitted to drug use prior to falling asleep.

The toddler was taken to OSF St. Francis Hospital by Rampart EMS and stabilized until airlifted to the Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee for treatment of hypothermia. The boy has since been treated and released from the Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee and is reunited with family.

Investigators arrested Madril on a charge of child abuse 2nd degree, a 10-year felony, and lodged at the Delta County Jail where he remains lodged on a $150,000 cash/surety bond after arraignment in Delta County District Court.

Escanaba Public Safety was assisted by Delta County Central Dispatch, Rampart EMS, Valley Med Flight, and The Department of Human Services – Child Protection Division.

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