On Dec. 9, 2024, at 10:04 p.m., the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office that twin 2-week-old males were at Cincinnati Children’s Urgent Care walk-in clinic in Anderson Township with suspicious bruising. Urgent care staff contacted the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, who responded and spoke to the family and determined that the injuries may have occurred while at their residence located at 700 University Lane in Batavia Township, Clermont County. Medical staff called for Anderson Township Fire and EMS to respond and transport the twins to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for further evaluation.
Detectives with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit responded to Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center and spoke to the twins’ mother, April Bebout. Ms. Bebout told detectives the children had no apparent injuries before she left the residence around 2:30 p.m., within the same apartment complex for a 10-minute timeframe. During her absence, she received a call from Charles Lewis, the children’s father, with at least one of the infants crying in the background. She said during that call, Lewis claimed he found injuries on one of the infants; therefore, she returned home to examine them. Bebout told detectives she located bruises and abrasions on both children, and Lewis was the only person watching the children while she was gone. Bebout confirmed medical attention was not sought until later that evening, around 8:30 p.m.
Medical staff at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center examined the infants and determined the injuries were most likely a result of physical abuse.
Detectives responded to the residence and spoke to Lewis, who denied harming the children. Detectives worked with Child Protective Services to arrange the children’s placement in a safe environment while the investigation continued.
During a follow-up interview with detectives on Dec. 11, Lewis admitted to causing the injuries to the infants and was taken into custody without incident. At that time, he was charged through Clermont County Municipal Court for one count of Endangering Children, a felony of the second degree, and has remained in the Clermont County Jail since on a $250,000 cash or surety bond.
Detectives also spoke with a home health aide at the family residence earlier the morning of Dec. 9 and confirmed no injuries were noted.