Melisah Jenkins

ESCANABA — A mother who failed to protect her infant son from being physically abused by the child’s father, had her parental rights taken away during a hearing in Delta County Probate Court on Wednesday.

Last month, Melisah Marie Jenkins, 21, of Escanaba, agreed it was in the best interest of her son, now 11 months old, to be placed under court custody and have her parental rights terminated. She admitted she did not stop her boyfriend, Jerry Jay Munger III, from harming their baby because she was afraid he would hurt her as he has done in the past.

Munger is charged with first-degree child abuse following an investigation into suspicious injuries to his son who the couple brought to the local hospital for emergency medical care on Jan. 26 when he was five months old.

Munger had his parental rights terminated last month and is scheduled to make a plea in circuit court next week.

During Jenkins’ dispositional hearing Wednesday, Probate Court Referee Perry Lund determined the legal elements had been met to terminate her parental rights after reviewing evidence and hearing testimony from two employees from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Lund said there was evidence Jenkins did not protect her son from Munger’s abuse and did not report the abuse. He said there was clear and convincing evidence she had failed to provide proper care and custody of the child who was diagnosed with a black eye and a fractured skull.

Jenkins testified last month that she witnessed Munger throwing the child into the crib, forcibly pushing on the child’s back while in the crib, and grabbing the boy by the neck and pushing him against the wall.

Prosecutor Philip Strom and the child’s legal representative, John M.A. Bergman, each agreed Wednesday that the statutory grounds had been met to take away Jenkins’ parental rights.

Strom also noted the mother was doing what’s best for her child — given the evidence of injuries — and was acting responsibly by giving up her parental rights.

Jenkins’ attorney, Jean-Paul Rudell, told the court, “This is a very emotional event for the mother.”

Rudell said his client realizes she acted inappropriately and agreed it’s in the best interest of

the child to have her parental rights terminated.

Following Wednesday’s hearing, Jenkins was allowed to schedule one good-bye visit with her son.

Munger remains lodged in jail in lieu of a $650,000 bond. He was arrested for first-degree child abuse, a life felony, on Jan. 29 following investigations by Escanaba Public Safety and DHHS.

Munger pleaded no contest and voluntarily gave up his parental rites in probate court on March 2 after Lund reviewed evidence of severe physical abuse as legal grounds for the court to take jurisdiction over Munger’s son and terminate his parental rights.

Lund determined the child’s injuries were caused by intentional acts by the father at different times and the child would be at risk of further injury if returned to the father.

The child remains under the care of a licensed foster care home in Marquette County.

According to a foster care specialist who testified Wednesday, the boy is recovering from his injuries and is a happy baby who is bonding with the foster mother.

The foster care specialist noted the child had trouble eating because he was afraid of anything coming towards his face but is now eating by feeding himself. She also told the court there are families interested in adopting the boy.

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Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.net