Texas Mother Dies in Jail After Arrest for Alleged Abuse of Toddler Found with Severe Injuries, Including Broken Ribs and Bruises

WOOD COUNTY, Texas — After being imprisoned for mistreating her toddler, who was determined to have extensive bodily injuries, an East Texas woman allegedly passed away from a cardiac incident.

The sheriff’s office claims that investigators were informed of a child abuse/neglect case involving a 23-month-old toddler girl whose injuries “resulted in an emergency removal from the mother.” Living with her boyfriend Adam Woods, the mother was recognized by the sheriff’s office as Tori Huggins.

The toddler was rushed to a hospital where they found she was very emaciated, dehydrated, had a fractured left forearm that had apparently been broken for at least two weeks, and had bruises from head to toe varying in degree of healing.

The kid was eating human feces and candy wrappers, according to the sheriff’s office, which resulted in an intestinal blockage.

Following medical clearance, the toddler was released into CPS custody after receiving a blood transfusion during her treatment. A tumor rupturing in the belly led to surgery for the toddler one week before her second birthday. The sheriff’s office claimed the infant had a drain tube in place because of blunt force trauma.

A warrant for the injuries to a minor arrests of Huggins and Woods was issued. Huggins reportedly told Wood County Sheriff’s Office correctional officials she suffered from depression and was considering suicide once she was transferred to jail.

To be watched for her protection, Huggins was housed in a padded cell.

Huggins was discovered unconscious on March 21 at about 5:10 a.m., and correctional officials started life-saving actions until EMS showed up. Huggins was hauled to a hospital where she was declared dead.

The final autopsy report found that Huggins’s cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia and numerous cardiac abnormalities, therefore defining the mode of death as “natural.”