St. Paul Park woman accused in abuse case; exam showed toddler had 26 separate injuries

PARK RAPIDS, Minn. – A St. Paul Park woman’s toddler had 26 separate injuries that were strongly indicative of “non-accidental trauma,” according to a Fargo doctor who examined the 2 1/2-year-old as part of a suspected Hubbard County child abuse case.

When a caseworker told the child’s mother about the documented injuries, Katrice Mae Lund allegedly said, “Yeah, it sucks but bruises heal.”

Lund, 32, of St. Paul Park, is charged with malicious punishment of a child and child neglect/endangerment. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and/or a $10,000 fine upon conviction. She appeared in Hubbard County District Court Monday.

The child is disabled and developmentally delayed. The criminal complaint charging Lund states the baby had been seen with multiple bruises throughout her body, missing clumps of hair and pinprick marks on the bottoms of her feet.

The investigation began when a family member brought her to St. Joseph’s Area Health Services on Oct. 17.

The child was subsequently referred to the Fargo doctor, who “found significant multiple bruises over multiple parts of her body including a pattern bruise to her right leg,” the complaint states.

The doctor noted the baby was “markedly delayed in development and mobility” and had not “been receiving appropriate care for her delays” even though Lund had been advised by a physician in the past to seek care for the child.

“The child “does not cry, talk or walk,” the complaint states.

It indicates Lund left the child unattended frequently and made repeated excuses about the numerous injuries the child suffered.

Lund, who faces more court appearances, blamed the suspected abuse on a man she briefly lived with in October.

It appears that she only recently turned up in the Park Rapids area and has bounced from home to home with the child.

Smith writes for the Park Rapids Enterprise, which like the South Washington County Bulletin is owned by Forum Communications.

Tags: crime and courts, updates, crime