Colorado parents face child abuse charges for abandoning baby on Christmas morning

Two Colorado parents face felony and misdemeanor child-abuse charges on Thursday after they allegedly abandoned their six-weeks old baby on a median in Denver on Christmas morning.

The parents, who appeared in court on Thursday morning, have been identified as 33-year-old Christina Thurman and her boyfriend, 42-year-old Jarvis Sims. 

Adams County Judge Jacque Lyn Russell, who oversaw Thurman's first court appearance, said she was a "physical and emotional danger" to her son, according to CBS News, after she and Sims left the baby on a Denver median in just a car seat and diaper.

A witness who saw Sims leave the baby brought the six-weeks-old to her home, and investigators said the baby also tested positive for cocaine, meaning the drug was in his system, according to an arrest report.

The incident occurred after Sims and Thurman got into a heated argument over Thurman's intoxication levels. It is not clear what time the baby was dropped off on the median, but Thurman claimed she got home at 4:30 a.m. on Christmas, while her boyfriend claimed Thurman got home at 6:30 a.m. local time. 

A witness claimed she saw Sims leave the baby on the median and shouted at him to come back, but Sims shouted that the baby belonged to Thurman and should be given to her. The witness later called her sister after taking the baby home, who called the police.

The baby was later taken to the Children's Hospital North in Broomfield, Colorado, with a social worker who stayed with him. Police also said they were able to contact the baby's godmother.

Both Thurman and Sims are being held on a $55,000 bond, and are expected to return to court on Monday.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.