Healthcare Couple Charged with Attempted Murder After Toddler Found Battered in Utah Basement

Child Abuse Case in Sandy, Utah

• 💔 A three-year-old girl was found severely injured, bruised, and unresponsive in a Utah basement, suffering from a skull fracture that doctors stated could have been fatal.
• 🏥 Her mother, Amber Leary, and her boyfriend, Tyrel Belone, both reportedly healthcare workers, have been charged with attempted aggravated murder, child torture, and aggravated child abuse.

Allegations of Prolonged Abuse

• 📱 Court documents reveal disturbing allegations, including text messages that prosecutors claim document prolonged and deliberate abuse, with threats of murder.
• ⏳ The abuse is alleged to have occurred over a period of time, raising questions about how it went unchecked.
• 🏠 The couple had recently moved to Utah, potentially limiting their social and family support network, which may have contributed to the lack of intervention.

The Incident and Medical Findings

• 🚨 On June 28, 2025, police responded to a call about an assaulted child, finding the girl motionless and barely breathing, covered in bruises.
• 🤕 Medical examinations revealed significant bruising, extensive soft tissue injury, internal bleeding, and a complex skull fracture.
• 👨‍⚕️ Medical experts noted that the number and distribution of injuries were beyond what is expected for a toddler.

Legal Ramifications and Defense Strategies

• ⚖️ Prosecutors are pursuing attempted aggravated murder charges, citing the severity of injuries, the alleged torture, and the text messages as evidence of intent.
• 🗣️ Defense attorneys may argue that some injuries are common in toddlers or attempt to attribute them to accidents, though expert testimony contradicts this.
• ⚖️ The mother, Amber Leary, faces accountability for allowing the abuse to happen, even if she did not directly inflict all the injuries, potentially facing charges as an accomplice.

Defendant's Admissions and Text Messages

• 💥 Tyrel Belone reportedly admitted to spanking the child multiple times, including striking her with an open hand and closed fist, causing bruises.
• 🧱 In a particularly disturbing account, Belone told police he threw the child onto a mattress, causing her to ricochet and hit her head on the wall, resulting in the severe skull fracture.
• 📱 Graphic text messages exchanged between Leary and Belone, including threats to