West Virginia State Police in Hamlin say Jason Riffe, 34, of
Harts, is charged with child neglect resulting in injury and child neglect
creating the risk of injury.
Troopers say the 2-year-old girl was left unsupervised on July
13 in the bathtub at his home on Frances
Creek Road
She was flown to Cabell
Huntington Hospital
She was released from the hospital Sunday. She and her
8-month-old sister are now in the custody of Child Protective Services.
According to the criminal complaint, Riffe told troopers he left
his daughter in the bathtub for 10 to 20 seconds while he went to get a towel
from another room. He says he heard a noise and when he went back into the
bathroom, he found the girl unresponsive.
Doctors say after assessing the little girl's condition, there
is no way the extent of her injuries could occur during the time frame of
events described by Riffe.
The complaint also states Riffe's girlfriend and the child’s
mother, Jessica Nicholson, told troopers Riffe has a history of drug use and
has manufactured meth at their home several times.
Troopers say Riffe later admitted to taking a Xanax pill while
at the hospital.
Riffe turned himself in to State Police Wednesday afternoon.
