2-week-old baby was ‘violently shaken,’ West Virginia cops say. Mom charged

A mom has been charged after being accused of abusing her 2-week-old baby, West Virginia officials said. (

On Oct. 14, Monongalia County deputies got reports of a 2-week-old baby having been involved in “serious physical abuse,” according to a Facebook post by the sheriff’s office.

The report stated the baby had been “violently shaken” and left injured at a Westover home, deputies said.

Child Protective Services transported the baby to a local hospital before taking custody of the infant, officials said.

During the investigation, deputies learned the baby’s dad accused the child’s 21-year-old mom, Cheyann Reichard, of the abuse, officials said.

He told officials she had shaken the baby while their head wasn’t supported and “knocked” the baby on the head because they wouldn’t stop crying, sheriff’s officials told WDTV.

Medical personnel determined the baby’s injuries were serious and “non-accidental” nor consistent with “those sustained during childbirth,” deputies said.

The baby had five broken bones, two skull fractures and potential brain injuries, deputies told WDTV.

After executing a search warrant, investigators uncovered evidence supporting the medical personnel’s findings and arrested the mom, officials said.

Reichard was charged with child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, deputies said. An investigation remains ongoing.

Westover is about a 150-mile drive northeast from Charleston.