Kaitlyn Laura, 31, faces felony charges in Tarrant County, accused by the sheriff’s office of medically abusing her child and leading to unnecessary treatments.
TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — A 31-year-old woman has been arrested in Tarrant County on allegations of medically abusing a child and causing serious injury, according to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office.
Kaitlyn Rose Laura was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on a charge of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony. She also faces an additional charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
In a statement announcing the arrest, Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn called the case “horrific,” and added that medical child abuse cases are often complex and can be difficult to investigate.
According to an arrest affidavit, investigators allege Laura provided false medical information about her child that led to unnecessary and invasive medical procedures. Authorities say the child underwent the placement of a gastric feeding tube after Laura allegedly misrepresented the child’s medical history to doctors.
The child’s age is not specified; however, the affidavit outlines a months-long investigation that began with a 2025 report of possible medical child abuse.
That 2025 report was not pursued at the time due to jurisdictional and resource limitations, the affidavit states.
“Despite the surgery occurring at Cook Children’s Medical Center, which would be Fort Worth PD jurisdiction, Fort Worth PD referred the case to Glen Rose PD because the suspect lived within Glen Rose city limits,” the affidavit states.
The affidavit goes on to say that the Glen Rose Police Department has only two officers and limited resources to investigate this type of case, so the department referred the case to the Johnson County DA to investigate.
The investigation was revived in February 2026 after new allegations surfaced involving similar claims of false medical reporting.
Investigators say Child Protective Services (CPS) removed the child from Laura’s custody in mid-February after concerns were raised by medical staff at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. According to the affidavit, Laura allegedly attempted to leave the hospital against medical advice as the concerns were being investigated.
After the child was removed from Laura’s care, officials reported a dramatic change in the child’s condition. The affidavit states the child, who had reportedly been unable to eat and was confined to a hospital bed, was later observed eating solid food, walking independently, and no longer requiring medical devices or restraints.
Laura had requested a bed with restraints for the child because the child had broken three cribs at home by kicking the bed, according to the affidavit.
Medical professionals from both Cook Children’s Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center Dallas told investigators that Laura’s claims about the child’s medical history were inconsistent with records, the affidavit states. It added that doctors had noted that the child had been described as suffering from multiple serious conditions, including cerebral palsy, seizures, autism, developmental disorders and feeding intolerance — maladies that they allegedly believed were not supported by medical evaluations.
The affidavit further alleges the child had been unnecessarily confined to a wheelchair and a specialized hospital bed while in Laura’s care, despite later showing normal mobility once separated.
Investigators additionally allege that Laura maintained multiple social media accounts and fundraising pages describing the child’s poor medical conditions. Authorities say at least three GoFundMe campaigns were created seeking donations tied to the child’s care.
“These cases are often complex and challenging to investigate, which can lead to them being overlooked within the criminal justice system,” Waybourn said. “We remain committed to ensuring every report is taken seriously and every child receives the protection they deserve.”
Authorities say a separate investigation into potential Medicaid fraud tied to alleged unnecessary medical treatments is ongoing.
Officials are asking anyone who may have donated or communicated with Laura about her children’s health to contact the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Division.
According to the affidavit, the child is reportedly doing well in a safe environment at this time, although investigators say some developmental delays have been observed as a result of the alleged abuse.
As of writing this, Laura has been released on bond from the Tarrant County jail.