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Salina police arrest the mother of Clayden Urbanek, the 14-month-old child who died earlier this month. Police say he died as a result of child abuse. The mother was booked into jail Tuesday for felony murder, aggravated child endangerment and obstructing the legal process.
On October 4, police arrived at the Salina home because Clayden's mom called 911. Her boyfriend had called her at work and told her to come home because Clayden was acting strange. When police arrived, he was lifeless and cold to the touch. Captain Mike Sweeney says it was obvious he had been abused.
Police arrested the mother's 27-year-old boyfriend. He was charged child abuse and felony murder.
Captain Sweeney says based on Clayden's injuries, this was not a one time abuse situation. However, he says they had never been called to the house before.
"He deserves justice. He's 15 months old, he didn't need this and he didn't deserve this," said Rosina Hoffman. She's the great aunt of Clayden on his dad's side. Hoffman says they didn't get to see Clayden very often, but he was adored by the family. "He was a go getter and he was picky, if he didn't like you he wasn't going to you," she said.
Hoffman says his dad tried to spend as much time as possible with him. She doesn't know the mother or her boyfriend very well. She's now putting her faith in the justice system.
Meanwhile, the woman who paid for Clayden's funeral, hair salon owner Kirsten Pickard, says this case continues to break her heart. Though she never met Clayden and is not close to the family, Pickard donated $1,200 for the cremation and funeral.
Pickard says, "I think one of the biggest problems is that young people don't have enough empathy. When they hear about somebody dying or somebody passing they feel sympathy and they are sympathetic for the family, but there's no real empathy, and they don't put themselves in that situation."