Gone Too Soon

(HOLDREGE, Neb.) – Another tragic story of a little one gone to soon. On May 28th, the Phelps County Attorney’s Office filed charges against two Holdrege residents connected with the abuse of their infant daughter.

Report from Midwest Media by Melanie

A baby girl was born to Jason Remmenga and Elaina Nietfeld of Holdrege, Nebraska in January 2024.

The family unit ended in May when Jason took his daughter to the hospital in Holdrege because he said she was “choking,” according to court records. After being transferred to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, law enforcement was notified due to the concern of possible child abuse due to bleeding on the surface of the 4-month old’s brain, as well as evidence of healing wounds (rib fractures). Blood was pooling behind the baby’s eyes, and an old bruise remained visible above her left eye. The conclusion was, according to court records, that abuse had been ongoing for some time.

And so a warrant for arrest was issued for both Jason and Elaina on May 28. Both were jailed, and both bonded out. Jason’s bond was $5000 (10% of $50,000), and Elaina’s, $2,500 (10% of $25,000).

Jason was bound over to District Court in Phelps County on June 5. He waived his preliminary hearing. Elaina’s arraignment is scheduled for June 24 at 10 am. There is no date set for Jason’s next appearance.

Jason is charged with:

• Commit child abuse intentionally/injury. FEL 2
• Commit child abuse intentional/no injury. FEL ЗА
• Commit child abuse intentional/no injury. FEL ЗА

Elaina is charged with:

• 01 Commit child abuse intentional/no injury ; Class 3A Felony
• 02 Commit child abuse intentional/no injury ; Class 3A Felony

Offense Date of charges is set to 01/15/2024

I have been told baby Lea passed away and it is heartbreaking.

From court records:

Lea was then transferred to Children’s Hospital in Omaha Nebraska for a higher level of care. Once there they confirmed that she had bleeding on the surtace of her brain, primarily on the right side but they also found that she had a skull fracture, also on the right side of her head. It was also found that Lea had injuries to both her eves with blood pooling in the back of the eyes. This will most likely lead to vison loss if Lea survives. The doctors at Children’s concluded that all these injuries were the result of abusive head trauma and that the trauma had to have occurred very close to the time that Lea began to show physical symptoms of distress. They also confirmed that Lea would not have acted normally after this injury and would not have done things such as drink a bottle.