Mother of child with fractured skull also charged with abuse

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) – The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office has also arrested the mother of the child who was airlifted to Chapel Hill with a fractured skull.

Deputies arrested Erin Johnson this afternoon. She’s charged with two counts of accessory after the fact and neglect/child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.

Detectives say on November 13, the child was home all day with his father Joshua Lewis Johnson, 40, who told investigators he was asleep and woke up and found the boy unconscious. According to the Sheriff’s Office Joshua Johnson called his wife, who came home from work and took her son to the emergency room. In addition to the skull fracture, investigators say the boy had scratches and bruises.  According to an arrest warrant, the child also suffered a brain bleed.

The arrest warrant states Erin Johnson lied to medical staff at New Hanover Regional Medical Center and New Hanover County sheriff’s deputies about how the child was hurt.  The warrant also states that Erin Johnson showed a reckless disregard for human life by failing to provide accurate information about the cause of the child’s injuries and failing to promptly seek medical help.

Erin Johnson is in jail under a $150,000 bond.

Joshua Johnson remains in jail under a $625,000 bond.

No word yet on the child’s current condition.