Parents charged with abuse after child's botched circumcision using a utility tool, officials say
A couple has been arrested after authorities say they performed a botched circumcision on their son at their central Missouri home last week.
Prosecutors charged Tyler Wade Gibson, 35, with one felony count of unauthorized practice of medicine and one felony count of child abuse in connection to the incident, a criminal complaint filed in Morgan County Circuit Court shows.
His 32-year-old wife Bailey Gibson is also charged with one count of felony child abuse in connection to the incident at their home in Versailles, a small city about 40 miles southwest of Jefferson City, a Morgan County Sheriff's office spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
On Nov. 28, deputies responded the couple's home, charging documents show, after receiving a call from a Department of Families Services employee contacted by a hospital employee about a child "who had undergone a circumcision at home."
Dad used utility tool, procedure 'did not go as planned'
The procedure "did not go as planned," a deputy wrote in the complaint, and the child was taken to a local hospital then transported to Columbia University Hospital for treatment. The complaint also states the child's father called an emergency hotline to report the child's circumcision.
After deputies arrested the child's father at the family's home, he reportedly agreed to speak with officers and, according to the complaint, said he used "a utility tool" for the procedure.
The complaint goes onto read Tyler Gibson admitted he wasn’t medically trained, but said he had conducted research and said a prayer before starting the circumcision.
"He also mentioned he was not prepared for the amount of bleeding," so they took the child to the local hospital, the affidavit continues.
After child taken to hospital, parents allegedly left
He and his wife told deputies they left the hospital after four hours of the child being there because "they were tired of waiting," the complaint shows.
Court documents also show Bailey Gibson allegedly told deputies "she was very hesitant and unsure" about the decision to perform the circumcision.
When asked why they proceeded with the procedure, the complaint continues, "she did not respond."
Deputies did not immediately arrest her because she had another child in the home and was breastfeeding, the complaint says.
On Thursday, a sheriff's office spokesperson said both the husband and wife had bonded out of jail following their respective arrests.
Father who officials said circumcised son at home pleads not guilty
Online records show Tyler Gibson appeared in court Monday, waived his formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty to his charges. An attorney of record was not listed online for him Thursday, but online records show he is set to appear before a judge on Jan. 21, for an attorney status hearing.
His wife was served with a warrant on Nov. 29, court records show, booked and released from jail on $25,000 bond. Court records show she is set to appear in court for arraignment on Jan. 28.
Bailey Gibson's attorney Matthew Brown released the following statement to Paste BN Thursday:
“As it stands, Ms. Bailey is presumed innocent and I would caution everyone from a quick rush to judgment. It’s very early in the case and she deserves her day in courts which will happen in due time.”
This story has been updated.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.