A 2-year-old Madisonville girl is recovering at UT Medical Center in Knoxville after one of the worst child abuse cases a veteran Monroe County Sheriff's Office detective said he has seen.
The girl's mother and the mother's boyfriend have been charged in connection with the case, Detective Travis Jones said.

Jones said Phillip Trevor Lenoir, 28, Middle View Lane, Madisonville, has been charged with aggravated child abuse.
The mother, Tasha Jo Mason, 26, Middle View Lane, Madisonville, has been charged with child neglect for not preventing the abuse, Jones said.
The two were charged Thursday after a grand jury was able to quickly return an indictment just days after the alleged abuse occurred, Jones said.

As of early Friday afternoon, both suspects were still in the Monroe County Jail.
Jones said Lenoir is being held without bond.
Jones said the investigation began after the child was taken to Woods Memorial Hospital in McMinn County early last week after supposedly being ran over by an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
The child was then flown to UT Medical Center and her suspicious injuries prompted a call to authorities.

Investigators consulted with doctors and the Department of Children's Services and determined the injuries were consistent with child abuse, not an ATV accident.
Jones said the girl's brain was swollen, she had other symptoms of shaken baby syndrome and numerous bruises and broken bones.

The detective said the child was abused while in the care of the boyfriend at the couple's Madisonville residence. Jones is no stranger to a variety of investigations, but even he was taken back by the severity of the girl's injuries.
"I actually had to leave the room for a moment," he said.

The detective was able to report some good news Friday after speaking with the medical staff at UT.
Jones said he was told the little girl was talking and eating peaches.
Late Friday Jones said an additional aggravated child abuse charge was added against Lenoir after a witness came forward and said the suspect had broken the same child's arm in September.

During a search of the residence, Jones said various drug paraphernalia was found netting Lenoir a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia in addition to the child abuse charges.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101