Staff Report

Julia L. Harrison-Gibbs

Andrew J. Paluzzi

PLYMOUTH — Two people from South Bend were recently arrested after allegedly neglecting an infant in Marshall County.

Julia L. Harrison-Gibbs, 21; and Andrew J. Paluzzi, 21, both of South Bend, are each charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, a level 5 felony.

Both Harrison-Gibbs and Paluzzi lived in Marshall County at the time of these incidents.

On May 16, a Marshall County Sheriff’s Office detective received a report about an infant being taken to a hospital in St. Joseph County for injuries they allegedly sustained from a fall.

According to court documents, the child had a large hematoma on their forehead and several quarter-sized bruises on the side of their head. The child also had multiple bruises to their face, back, ear, and chest. The detective received information that the child had a past rib fracture after Harrison-Gibbs allegedly dropped the child in March.

In interviews with law enforcement, Harrison-Gibbs and Paluzzi, who were responsible for the child’s welfare, denied abusing or harming the child. However, Paluzzi admitted to feeling overwhelmed at times and having difficulty with the child. He told officers that the child pushed their legs against his chest while he was getting them from a play pen. Paluzzi said this caused him to drop the child.

With the March incident, Harrison-Gibbs said she was holding the child and reaching for a bottle when the child jumped out of her arms, hitting an end table.

A Department of Child Services caseworker and family case manager said they believed the child would not have fractured their rib from falling in March.

Relatives for both Harrison-Gibbs and Paluzzi said they never saw any abuse toward the child. A couple relatives noted Paluzzi and the child didn’t really connect.

Harrison-Gibbs and Paluzzi were both booked in the Marshall County Jail on Sept. 6.