Campti woman facing charge in
Child Abuse case

Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana  –  The case of a 3-year-old child severely bruised over most of its body led Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s detectives to charge the father’s girlfriend, according to a release.

One detective called the case “very disturbing,” and the sheriff office’s release also called it “one of the worst cases of child abuse detectives have seen,” it reads.

Deputies were called to the 400 block of Stiles Road near Campti in the evening of Nov. 10 about possible child abuse, but found that family members had taken the child to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

The release does not state whether the child is a boy or a girl.

Deputies and detectives went to the hospital, finding the mother and a family friend.  While there, they “observed severe bruising to the child’s body, which included the face, abdomen, back, arms and legs after the child was returned to the mother following a child custody exchange with the father,” reads the release.

As the investigation continued, detectives were joined by the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services, Project Celebration Inc. of Many and the Rapides Children’s Advocacy Center.  The child later was transported to the Cara Center in Shreveport for further evaluation.

“While detectives continued the investigation, photographs began surfacing on social media from a private individual of the incident which lead to numerous additional calls to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and the public showing concern for the child,” reads the release.

The sheriff’s office isn’t releasing information on those photos, citing the continuing investigation, said Natchitoches Chief Investigator Greg Dunn.

Eventually, detectives got a warrant for the arrest of Amber Barbo, the girlfriend of the child’s father.  Barbo, 24, of the 400 block of Stiles Road, was arrested on Monday and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center.

Barbo was charged with second-degree cruelty to juveniles.  She later was released on a $10,000 bond, according to the release.

“One detective assigned to the case with eight years of experience in investigations said this is the worst case of child abuse he has seen, and it was very disturbing,” reads the release.

The investigation is continuing, and “other arrests may be forthcoming,” it reads.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Detective Derrick Sowell at 318-357-7830.