Cellphone Documents Months Of Abuse Before 2-Year-Old Dies

DAVENPORT, FL – Concealed behind the doors of an 8- by 30-foot camper trailer, a 2-year-old boy endured months of relentless beatings and abuse that eventually ended his life. That’s the story Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd shared during a press conference Friday, Aug. 3.

Using recovered text messages and the first-hand testimony of the child’s mother, Polk investigators pieced together the horror, pain and suffering that marked the final weeks of 2-year-old Harley Don Hiatt Jr.'s life.

According to Judd, Shannon Short, 26, and Christian Thompson, 26, had been living in the one-bedroom camper at 130 Memorial Park Ave., Davenport, with Short’s 2-year-old son for about a month.

The couple had been dating for about eight months and moved in together in May. Short was working two jobs as a waitress and Harley was left in Thompson’s care while Short was at work.

On Tuesday, July 31, at about 3 a.m. Short called 911 because the 2-year-old’s eyes were rolling back in his head and he was grinding his teeth. He eventually slipped into unconsciousness. Paramedics arrived and the toddler was transported to Heart of Florida Hospital where medical staff determined he had a brain bleed. He was pronounced dead at 6:55 a.m.

The medical examiner quickly discovered the cause of death. The child had suffered a blunt-force trauma to the stomach that lacerated his bowels. Left untreated, the baby developed peritonitis that led to the fatal bleeding in his brain.

“The medical examiner confirmed that the child had been tortured,” said Judd.

The toddler showed signs of abuse spanning three months including bruises, scratches and hair loss, said Judd.

“He was beating this beautiful baby like he was a rented mule,” said Judd.

It was a seconds-long video on Thompson’s cellphone July 27 that showed the extent of the horror the child was experiencing, said Judd.

Thompson sent the video to Short while she was at work documenting scratches and bruises on Harley’s face. In the video, Judd said Harley looks into the camera, trembling with fear.

“You could see nothing but terror on this child’s face,” Judd said.

Making a case of first-degree murder against Thompson wasn’t difficult, he said. Thompson provided a photographic and text message diary of the abuse on his cellphone.

In one message, Thompson expressed concern because the child began scratching his own face so he tied Harley up to prevent him from scratching.

In another message, Thompson told Short that Harley broke a plate. Short instructed Thompson to “f…. him up.”

At one point, Thompson sent Short a message telling her he’s concerned about the bruises from the belt he’s been using to beat Harley. Short advised him to switch to a purse strap.

And on still another occasion, the couple searched Google for information on satanic possession because Harley wouldn’t open his eyes for days. It turned out that the child had a serious eye infection.

Judd said one of the most heinous signs of abuse was never mentioned in a text message. During the autopsy, the medical examiner discovered that someone had mutilated the child’s penis, said Judd.

On the day before Harley’s death, Short told police he seemed fine except for the fact that he was bruised.

Around 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 30, Short ordered a ride from Lyft to go to Amscot to cash a check and then to Publix. While at Publix, Thompson texted her that Harley was vomiting.

When Short returned home, the 2-year-old was moaning in pain so she gave him some Motrin and a leftover antibiotic. She also tried placing him in the bathtub but the boy was unable to sit up by himself.

Short told detectives she then left him lying on a futon while she went out with a friend to party and purchase $20 worth of marijuana.

When Short returned home three hours later, Harley hadn’t moved on the futon.

She said she and Thompson debated taking him to a doctor but were concerned about getting into trouble with child protection services. So, the couple relieved their stress by smoking pot.

Judd said doctors agreed the child’s condition was treatable if the couple had sought medical help.

“They are two wretched, evil people who cared more about themselves than they did this baby,” said Judd. “I can’t imagine the fear along with the extended pain this child was subjected to before they finally killed him.”

Thompson has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse, negligent child abuse and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Short has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, negligent child abuse with great bodily harm, child abuse, failure to report child abuse and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The couple is scheduled to be in court for a bail hearing this afternoon.

Images via Polk Sheriff

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