Grandmother charged in 'significant' Louisville child abuse case after 2 children hospitalized

The parents pleaded not guilty, and both are being held on a $500,000 full cash bond.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A grandmother is now the third person arrested and charged in a "significant child abuse case" in Louisville after two children were hospitalized with severe injuries.

Yvonne Shanks, 49, of Louisville, was arrested Friday, charged with complicity assault-domestic violence, complicity criminal abuse of a child 12 or under, complicity wanton endangerment and complicity endangering the welfare of a minor.

According to court documents, detectives with the Louisville Metro Police Department's Special Victims Unit/Office of Sexual and Physical Investigations were contacted after a 2-year-old child was taken to UofL Health Hospital on Jan. 15 in full cardiac arrest.

Police said the child was taken to the hospital by private means, and 911 was never called.

The hospital reported the child had:

An occipital skull fracture
Several missing teeth
Two posterior rib fractures that were at least two weeks old
Extensive bruising
Severe anemia from loss of blood
Elevated CK, indicating muscle damage
Elevated liver enzymes, indicating liver injury
Elevated lipase, indicating a possible pancreas injury
Was extremely underweight/emaciated

Police then went to a home on Goldenrod Road in Valley Station to check on other children and take them to the hospital to be evaluated.

Yvonne Shanks' arrest report states a child about 1-year-old was found laying on a bed of the master bedroom with "obvious signs of trauma." EMS was called, and the child was taken to Norton Children's Hospital. It's unclear how many other children were in the home at the time.

Hospital staff determined the 1-year-old child had:

Three possible skull fractures
Possible jawbone fracture
Blood inside the skull
Was extremely underweight/emaciated
Elevated liver enzymes, indicating liver injury
Severe anemia from loss of blood into the head/belly and soft tissue
Lacerations above both eyes
Unclear trauma to the mouth, with at least one tooth missing
Trauma to the nose

According to her citation, during an interview with police, Yvonne Shanks said she had observed injuries to the victim on Jan. 15, failing to call 911 or get the child medical treatment.

"The suspect allowed the victim, who is 11 months old, to be placed in the care of another who caused serious physical injuries," her citation said.

Nicholas Shanks and Shelby Kuntz in court Friday Jan 16 — Nicholas Shanks, 27, (left) and Shelby Kuntz, 25, (right) in court on Jan. 16, 2026 on two charges of assault-domestic violence, two counts of criminal abuse of a child 12 or under, two counts of wanton endangerment and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor. (WDRB Images)

The parents of the children, Nicholas Shanks, 27, and Shelby Kuntz, 25, were arrested Thursday and are charged with two counts of assault-domestic violence, two counts of criminal abuse of a child 12 or under, two counts of wanton endangerment and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.

Court documents state the parents were the only people who had been around the victims and the only two in custody of the children.

Yvonne Shanks pleaded not guilty in court Saturday morning, and is being held on a $250,000 cash bond. Yvonne Shanks is due back in court on Jan. 26.

Nicholas Shanks and Kunz pleaded not guilty in court Friday. A judge set both of their bonds at $500,000 full cash.

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