Twin dies; CPS takes away other child

PORTLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - A Portland couple, mourning the death of their child, are facing accusations they may have been to blame for his death.

Everette Thibeault was almost three months old when he died from what authorities call 'not accidental injuries'.  Although the couple's family told 24 Hour News 8 the pair would never harm their child, Child Protective Services filed a petition to attempt to take away Keith and Nicole Thibeault's parental rights.

"Keith and Nicole were excellent parents," said Everette's grandfather, James Fuller. "In fact, perhaps some of the best young parents I've ever seen."

According to court documents obtained by 24 Hour News 8, authorities filed papers saying Everette Thibeault was taken to Sparrow Hospital late last month with serious injuries including a brain injury and a rib fracture.  He was also bleeding from the liver, stomach and left lung.

Documents show doctors figured out several of Everette's injuries were older, including brain bleeding and a broken rib that looked to be weeks old. The documents also revealed doctors looked at Everette's twin brother Keegan, and found he had a "bucket handle fracture" in his left leg.

His mom allegedly admitted she may have accidentally caused that fracture when she "pulled him by his leg off the baby swing."

Everette died one day after he was admitted to the hospital.

The couple's family members said it's not possible the parents would harm either of their children. Fuller told 24 Hour News 8 this is a tragedy and everyone is devastated by what has happened.

"Pretty much pure hell. Protective Services has treated my kids real bad ever since the first day as soon as we got to the hospital. They started accusing them of doing bad things and everybody that knows them knows that they couldn't have done anything," he said.

The couple was so excited to have twins, he said, and their mom had to stay on bed rest for months to have the babies safely.

"I don't know. It was my first grandson and it's just really hard to lose him," said Fuller. "They loved those babies as much as any parents could ever love a baby."

Family members told 24 Hour News 8 that Everette had been in the care of a doctor for weeks leading up to his hospital admission because he'd been violently ill and vomiting.

Court documents said the injuries were not consistent with the story the twins' parents told.

Keegan has been removed from his parent's home. He is staying with a relative.

No one has been criminally charged in this case.