Ohio Mom Accused of Hospital-Hopping and Forcing Unneeded Insulin on Her 2-Year-Old While Cutting His Feeding Tubes, Prosecutors Say
BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO — A 43-year-old Ohio mother accused of taking her toddler to hospitals more than 20 times and interfering with his medical care — including allegedly giving him insulin he did not need — has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of child endangerment.
Prosecutors Say Child Was Hospitalized 20+ Times Until He Was Removed From His Mom’s Care
According to prosecutors, Jennifer Parker has been allegedly abusing her son medically since he was an infant, repeatedly bringing him to emergency rooms for conditions he never had.
In court, Assistant Prosecutor Lindsay Sheehan said:
“Since birth, under Miss Parker’s care, this child … has been hospitalized over 20 times.”
But once the child was removed from Parker’s custody in May, prosecutors say he has not been hospitalized a single time — and is now thriving.
That dramatic improvement caught the attention of doctors at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Cleveland Clinic, both of which reportedly warned authorities about Parker’s behavior.
Doctors Accuse Mom of Cutting Feeding Tubes and Giving Insulin to a Healthy Child
Prosecutors allege that Parker was actively interfering with her son’s ability to eat and may have been inducing medical crises.
Sheehan told the court that staff witnessed:
“Multiple instances of the mother … cutting feeding lines, clamping feeding lines, providing insulin or glucose to a child that doesn’t have any intolerance.”
Even more disturbing, medical teams questioned whether the 2-year-old ever needed a feeding tube at all.
Prosecutors said Parker refused doctors’ recommendations to transition him to normal oral feeding — insisting he stay on a feeding tube despite evidence he could eat normally.
Mother Claims She’s Being Targeted; Fiancé Says She Is “A Caring Mom”
In a lengthy Facebook post, Parker insisted she was innocent and claimed she was one of many parents falsely accused.
“There are more mothers and grandparents who are suffering the same allegations,”
Parker wrote on Nov. 10.
Her fiancé, Michael Carpenter, defended her to local media, saying she was doing “everything possible” to help their son. He insisted the child had long-term medical issues and the couple was simply trying to find proper treatment.
But prosecutors argue Parker’s behavior reflects medical child abuse, sometimes referred to as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, where a caregiver exaggerates or induces illness in a child.
Parker Held on $50,000 Bond, Ordered to Have No Contact With Her Children
Parker was arrested Monday and booked into the Butler County Jail, where she is being held on a $50,000 bond. She has been ordered not to contact any of her children, who are now in the custody of Children Services.
Her next hearing — a plea or trial setting — is scheduled for Nov. 24.
Authorities say they are still reviewing medical records, hospital footage, and testimony from staff to determine whether additional charges are warranted.
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