Two wanted in Poplar Bluff for child abuse arrested in Cape Girardeau

Poplar Bluff authorities arrested a local man and woman wanted in connection to a child abuse investigation Friday night at a Cape Girardeau motel.

Officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department had been searching for Donnisha Nelson, 22, and Sterling Marshall, 28, as persons of interest as they investigated the alleged abuse of Nelson's young sons.

Through investigative leads, Police Chief Danny Whiteley said officers learned Nelson and Marshall were possibly staying at a Cape Girardeau motel. "We contacted Cape [Police Department] and coordinated efforts with them to take the suspects into custody," Whiteley said.

Sterling Marshall

Contact was made with Marshall at the motel, which was located near Interstate 55, Whiteley said.

"After I negotiated with him, he willingly opened the door to the motel room, at which time, they were arrested without incident," he said

At one point, Whiteley said officers thought they were going to need a search warrant to make entry into the room.

"Cape PD had numerous tactical officers available at the scene" should that have been necessary.

After their arrest, Nelson and Marshall were brought back to Poplar Bluff where they were reinterviewed in regards to the children's injuries.

The investigation began at about 7 p.m. Wednesday when the Poplar Bluff Police Department assisted the Department of Social Services in looking into a hot line call of possible child abuse at a residence in the 1200 block of Apple, explained Whiteley.

"The preliminary investigation revealed two minor male children, one 23 months and one 3 years old, who had injuries consistent with multiple, untreated burns," Whiteley said.

The children, according to Whiteley, were taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where they were treated and released.

"Under the direction of Family Services, [the boys] have been removed [from their home] and placed in the care, custody and control of a close relative," who is being monitored by Family Services officials, Whiteley said.

During an initial interview, Whiteley said, the children's mother outlined an accidental cause for the injuries.

No further details in regard to the investigation or the children's injuries were available by press time.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, MO

Cape Girardeau, MO