CLARKSVILLE, TN – A Clarksville mother will spend over eleven years behind bars for the horrific neglect of her two-month-old son, leaving the child with burns so severe he barely survived. Lyndsey T. Bustamante, 29, received the sentence following a federal investigation and conviction for aggravated child neglect.
The case, detailed by the Department of Justice, reveals a chilling pattern of delayed medical care and home “treatment” after Andrew Garasich, Bustamante’s husband, scalded the infant during a bath on December 30, 2022. Garasich admitted to noticing the baby’s skin turning “beet red” and peeling, yet continued with plans to pick up chocolate-covered strawberries before seeking help. He even began peeling the baby’s skin himself.
While Bustamante was initially away from the home, she was immediately informed of the burns by Garasich. Despite knowing the extent of the injuries, neither parent sought professional medical attention for a full four days. Bustamante, shockingly, continued to bathe the baby herself, attempting to treat the wounds with a cocktail of ineffective remedies – soap, diaper rash cream, aloe, and children’s ibuprofen – while the child’s condition rapidly deteriorated.
The truth began to unravel through Bustamante’s own digital footprint. On January 1, 2023, she messaged a friend about considering a hospital visit due to the “really bad” peeling skin, describing picking off loose skin with a wet cloth. She even lied to another friend, falsely claiming to be at the hospital with the baby. This deceitful behavior highlights a deliberate attempt to conceal the abuse and avoid accountability.
Finally, on January 4, 2023, facing an upcoming doctor’s appointment and unable to ignore the severity any longer, Bustamante took the baby to Houston County Community Hospital, leaving Garasich behind. Medical personnel immediately recognized the life-threatening nature of the injuries and arranged for an emergency flight to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Police were dispatched to the hospital as the extent of the abuse became clear.
“The victim in this case was a two-month-old child who was horribly neglected by the Defendant and barely survived,” stated Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “This case shows that we will not hesitate to prosecute those who hurt children and, if they are convicted, we will seek long sentences in federal prison for them.” Bustamante was sentenced to 11 years and 4 months in federal prison. The FBI and Army CID both lauded the sentence as a victory for protecting vulnerable children. The child is now reportedly in a loving home but faces a lifetime of challenges due to the irreversible damage inflicted by his parents.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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