This tragic incident in Lincoln, Nebraska, has led to the death of a 4-month-old baby and the arrest of both parents, Ryan and Tanya Greenwood. The couple is facing serious charges of child abuse resulting in death and denying the infant medical assistance, according to the Lincoln Police Department (LPD).
Incident Overview
The events unfolded on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 14, when Ryan Greenwood, 36, called 911 around 5:30 a.m. to report that his daughter had died. Both he and his wife, Tanya, 28, were home when authorities arrived at their apartment.
An autopsy confirmed that the infant died of a traumatic brain injury consistent with shaking, a form of child abuse. The injury was deemed non-accidental, and experts noted that the baby’s chance of survival could have been improved had medical assistance been sought immediately.
Parents’ Statements and Contradictory Accounts
Ryan Greenwood initially told authorities that the day before the infant’s death, he was “playing rough” with her, which caused her to cry uncontrollably. He claimed that after feeding the baby, he put her to bed, and she was later found unresponsive. He attempted CPR and then called his mother before dialing 911.
However, Tanya Greenwood gave a different account of the events. She told investigators that she had gone grocery shopping on Aug. 13 and returned to hear her daughter’s “worst cry”. Tanya claimed that she wanted to seek medical help, but Ryan allegedly told her not to. Investigators later discovered that Tanya had previously witnessed Ryan shaking their daughter when frustrated and had searched online about shaken baby syndrome following the incident. Furthermore, Tanya had also inquired about injuries she had observed on their daughter, according to text messages between the couple.
Investigation and Arrests
The Lincoln Police investigation revealed troubling patterns of behavior, and both parents were arrested in connection to their daughter’s death. Ryan Greenwood was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 26, while Tanya Greenwood was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 28. They are each being held on a $1.5 million bond.
The authorities continue to investigate and encourage anyone with additional information to contact the Lincoln Police at 402-441-6000 and reference case number C5-070524.
Support for Victims of Child Abuse
If you suspect child abuse or need support, help is available through the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453).
