by Hamilton, OH — A 43-year-old Ohio mother at the center of disturbing medical child abuse allegations has formally pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges. Prosecutors say the woman repeatedly took her toddler to hospitals for illnesses he did not have, raising alarms among medical staff and triggering a criminal investigation.
Jennifer Parker Pleads Not Guilty in Butler County Court
On Wednesday, Jennifer Parker, 43, appeared before a Butler County judge to enter her plea to three counts of child endangerment. Prosecutors allege she subjected her 2-year-old son to unnecessary medical treatments since infancy.
According to reporting from WLWT, Parker is accused of engaging in repeated “hospital shopping,” taking her son to medical centers across Ohio for conditions doctors say were fabricated or induced.
Assistant Prosecutor Lindsay Sheehan told the court, “Since birth, under Ms. Parker’s care, this child, now 2, has been hospitalized over 20 times.”
Child Removed From Home and Showing Signs of Improvement
During the hearing, Sheehan revealed that Parker’s children were removed from her custody in May. Since that removal, the toddler—who had frequently been hospitalized—has not been admitted even once and is reportedly thriving.
Prosecutors suggested this dramatic improvement supports allegations that Parker may have been contributing to or causing the medical crises she reported.
Hospitals Reported Deep Concerns to Authorities
Sheehan stated that medical teams at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic flagged troubling patterns in Parker’s behavior and her child’s treatment history.
Hospital staff allegedly reported:
- Cutting or clamping feeding lines
- Interfering with the child’s ability to eat properly
- Administering insulin or glucose without medical justification
- Resisting removal of a feeding tube doctors believed the child no longer needed
Sheehan said medical teams documented “multiple instances where the mother was not providing appropriate medical care.”
Questions Raised About the Necessity of a Feeding Tube
In court, Sheehan further claimed that doctors had noted the child could eat orally, but Parker insisted he continue using a feeding tube. Medical staff allegedly observed that the child displayed clear physical ability to eat without it, yet Parker still refused to transition him to normal feeding.
The prosecution’s narrative suggests a pattern consistent with medical child abuse, sometimes referred to as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
Mother Defends Herself on Social Media
Despite the accusations, Parker publicly denied wrongdoing. In a Facebook post from Nov. 10, she claimed hospital staff had made similar allegations against other parents.
She wrote, “One parent was accused of the exact same thing by the exact same inpatient team… I know there are more mothers and parents and grandparents who are suffering the same allegations.”
Fiancé Speaks Out in Parker’s Defense
Parker’s fiancé, Michael Carpenter, who is also the biological father of the child involved, defended her outside the courthouse. He told WLWT that Parker is “a caring mother that wanted the best for her children.”
He insisted their son suffered chronic health problems since birth and that the couple struggled to find adequate medical care. Carpenter rejected the idea that Parker intentionally harmed their child.
Arrest, Bond, and Upcoming Court Date
Parker was arrested on Monday and is currently being held at the Butler County Jail on $50,000 bond. A judge ordered her to have no contact with any of her children, all of whom were placed under the supervision of Butler County Children Services.
Her next court appearance, a plea or trial setting, is scheduled for Nov. 24.
What Do You Think?
Do these allegations point to deliberate medical abuse, or is this a misunderstanding between a struggling family and the healthcare system?
Share your thoughts in the comments — your perspective matters.
