NC toddler has part of skull removed due to injury from child abuse caused by parent Vasantha Pasunuri who's facing charges

Child Abuse Toddler has part of skull removed due to injuries from child abuse, police say Monday, August 31, 2026 5:01PM Prosecutors said medical professionals determined the child is "brain dead" and had new and old injuries allegedly caused by his parents. WTVD A North Carolina judge ordered a mother, Vasantha Pasunuri, to remain in custody without bond after prosecutors detailed severe injuries her 2‑year‑old child suffered before being brought to a hospital unconscious earlier this summer.

Judge Mark Stevens said, "She will remain in custody without bond."

Prosecutors told the court the child had both fresh and older injuries and arrived at the hospital on June 2 unconscious, according to arrest documents from the Garner Police Department.

Those documents state the boy was physically injured so severely that part of his skull had to be removed as part of a life‑saving procedure.

Prosecutors said, "They were able to save his life, but I use that cautiously. He will never walk. He will never be able to turn himself around in a bed. He will only be able to breathe until there is a complication. This is a catastrophic event that occurred."

Several family members attended the arraignment but declined to comment afterward. Pasunuri's husband was arrested in June and charged with five counts, including attempted first‑degree murder.

Pasunuri's attorney, Joe Zeszotarski, said she is 30 years old, grew up in India, and works as a software engineer.

He said she originally came to the United States on a work visa and later received a student visa while pursuing an advanced degree.

Zeszotarski said, "She has worked with CPS and she has been seeing her child at the hospital on an almost daily basis."

In a later hearing, prosecutors said medical professionals determined the child is "basically brain dead" and had new and old injuries allegedly caused by his parents. They said the boy was in a vegetative state and had fractures of the vertebrae.

Prosecutors also said that when investigators questioned Pasunuri about the child's injuries, "He was unconscious. When they asked her questions about how did this happen? What happened to your child? Her response was, "Tell them to stop asking her questions."

Garner police said charges were filed Friday after further investigation and consultation with the Wake County District Attorney's Office.

Family members again declined to comment after court.

Zeszotarski said Pasunuri had been allowed supervised visits with her child at the hospital until her arrest.

He added, "She's here under legal immigration status. Her only travel documents are an Indian passport, which will also be surrendered to the court as a condition to this, to take her home."

Pasunuri faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.