Girl’s Injury Suspected As Child Abuse Head Injury Not Consistent With Explanation, Hospital Says

A 2-year-old Coeur d’Alene girl was flown to a Spokane hospital Wednesday, suffering from a serious head injury, said Kootenai County sheriff’s officials.

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the case as possible child abuse, said Capt. Ben Wolfinger.

However, no one has been arrested in connection with the girl’s injuries. Deputies also have not named any suspects.

Although the child’s name has not been released, Wolfinger said she is the daughter of Coeur d’Alene resident Eileen Campenelli.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the girl was listed in critical condition at Sacred Heart Medical Center, Wolfinger said.

Federico “Rick” Cortez, Campenelli’s boyfriend, had driven the child to Kootenai Medical Center about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Wolfinger said.

“The child was unconscious, suffering from head injuries and other injuries,” Wolfinger said. He would not specify what the other injuries are.

Hospital staff called Coeur d’Alene police after Cortez told them how the child had been injured.

“The medical staff was concerned that the nature of the injuries wasn’t consistent with the explanation that was given,” Wolfinger said.

The hospital staff was told the child had fallen and hit a planter at Cortez’s Rathdrum home on state Highway 53, Wolfinger said.

Citing the ongoing investigation, Wolfinger would not comment on what specifically had prompted the hospital staff to contact authorities.

Officials said Cortez told several variations of how the toddler had been injured.

The child, who has remained comatose, was flown from Kootenai Medical Center to Sacred Heart, where she was being cared for in the intensive care unit as of Wednesday evening.

“We’re looking into the possibility of it being an abuse situation,” Wolfinger said. “Any time you have a suspicious injury to a young child, we would look into it.”

Neither Cortez or Campenelli could be reached for comment.

In October 1993, Cortez was accused of biting off a part of another man’s ear during a brawl. He was charged with aggravated battery. His trial ended in a hung jury.

, DataTimes