Gates County couple face child abuse charges

Published 6:13 pm Tuesday, October 26, 2021

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GATESVILLE – A Gates County couple is behind bars after allegedly causing serious injuries to their four-month-old child.

Johnathon Bangle

Sheriff Ray Campbell said Johnathon Bangle, age 28, and 23-year-old Nichole Gardner, both of Drum Hill Road, Corapeake, are under arrest on the charges of felony intentional child abuse and serious physical injury.

Each was jailed under a $115,000 secured bond. They are scheduled to make their initial appearances on Nov. 1 in Gates County Criminal District Court.

Campbell said he was informed about the injuries to the infant after one of his officers made a call to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD), located in Norfolk, VA.

Nichole Gardner

“The child was reportedly found unresponsive on Aug. 28 and the child’s grandmother called Gates County EMS,” Campbell said. “EMS transported the child to CHKD. We became involved on Aug. 29 when we were advised by a member of the medical team at CHKD who said the diagnosis of the child’s injuries were consistent with child abuse.”

Campbell added that CHKD also reported there was an older injury to the child along with the most recent one.

He said the child survived the latest injury, but may suffer permanent medical damage.

Bangle and Gardner were arrested on Oct. 12.

About Cal Bryant

Cal Bryant, a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry, serves as the Editor at Roanoke-Chowan Publications, publishers of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Gates County Index, and Front Porch Living magazine.

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