Michigan mother pushes for convicted child abuser registry

DETROIT – Wyatt Rewoldt nearly died from shaken baby syndrome.

Travis English was hospitalized after being given an anti-psychotic drug.

While the boys are from two different families, they have one person in common: 32-year-old Rachel Edwards, who has been convicted of abusing both boys.

Travis' mother, Christyne Kadlitz, said it was while she was giving her son a bath in 2011 that she noticed bruising on his bottom. It was later revealed that the boy had been abused while visiting at his father's home in Warren. Edwards, who was dating the boy's father at the time, was convicted of third-degree child abuse and given probation.

A year later, Kadliltz took her son to the emergency room when he wouldn't stay awake. Blood tests revealed Travis had ingested Seroquel, a drug used to treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder. The drug belonged to Edwards, who was again convicted on a child abuse charge and given probation.

In November of 2013, 1-year-old Wyatt Rewoldt suffered brain damage and other injuries after being shaken. He had been rushed to the hospital when Edwards called 911 to report him unconscious. He now has vision loss, paralysis and other permanent injuries.

Edwards, who was dating Wyatt's father at the time of the incident, was charged again. She's scheduled to be sentenced in February.

Wyatt's mother, Erica Hammel, said she hadn't trusted Edwards with her son but couldn't find anything about her on the Internet when she searched. Hammel said had she known about Edwards' prior convictions, she would have had visitation with her son's father changed.

Hammmel is now pushing for the passing of "Wyatt's Law," which would create a registry for convicted child abusers. More than 6,000 people have signed an online petition in support of the law.