WOOD COUNTY, Texas — A woman who was jailed in Wood County on child abuse charges died back in March, the Wood County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday.
According to the WCSO, on March 14, 2024, investigators were notified of an alleged abuse case involving a 23-month-old girl that resulted in the toddler being removed from her mother and her mother's boyfriend's care. The mother of the child was identified as Tori Huggins and her boyfriend was identified as Adam Woods.
The toddler was taken to a Dallas hospital due to the severity of her injuries that included:
- Malnourishment
- Dehydration
- Fractured left forearm that had been broken for approximately two weeks
- Bruising from head to toe in various stages of healing
Investigators learned the child had been consuming human feces and candy wrappers which caused a blockage in her stomach.
"The 23-month-old's injuries include several bruises to her face, neck, lower back, hip, abdomen and head; small abrasions to her neck, chin, forehead, buttock, lower leg, right ankle, left shoulder and numerous small abrasions along her spine; peeling of her skin on her buttocks and genital area from a rash; two broken ribs, multiple fractures to five ribs, fractured pelvis, fractured pubic bone, fractured hip bone and a possible fractured nose; a laceration on her liver, left kidney, pancreas and a bowel obstruction," the WCSO said.
The child had to have a blood transfusion and was transferred into the custody of Child Protective Services after being medically cleared. A week later, the WCSO the child had to undergo surgery due to a mass rupturing in her stomach due to blunt-force trauma which led to the child having to have a drain tube inserted.
Huggins and Woods were arrested for injury to a child and booked into the Wood County Jail.
The WCSO says during book-in, Hggins said she was depressed and was having suicidal thoughts. Therefore, she was placed in a cell to be monitored for her safety.
On March 21, 2024, around 5:10 a.m., Huggins was found unresponsive in her cell and life-saving measures were taken by correctional officers until EMS arrived. She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to the WCSO, doctors believe Huggins' death was cardiac related. Family members later told staff Huggins suffered from Long QT Syndrome and was not taking her medication.
Her autopsy revealed she did, indeed, die as a result of a cardiac event.
Woods remains in the Wood County Jail on $1 million bond.