Mary landrieu's son arrested -child abuse

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The 23-year-old son of former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu was arrested Sunday on a count of cruelty to a juvenile after his 2-year-old son was treated at a Baton Rouge hospital for scratches and bruises that the toddler allegedly received while in his father’s care.

Frank “Connor” Snellings, 998 Stanford Ave., Apt. 419, was released on $10,000 bail shortly after he was booked into Parish Prison.

Deputies arrested Snellings after the mother of his 2-year-old son contacted authorities Sunday when Snellings showed up unexpectedly with the child — who was shirtless and with noticeable bruises and scratches — at her home around 8:30 p.m., according to an East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office report.

The mother took the child inside and locked Snellings out, the report says.

When deputies arrived at the house, they placed Snellings, who was outside and “appeared to be intoxicated,” in the back of a patrol car while the child’s mother took the boy to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, the report said.

A doctor at the hospital told deputies the child had a bruise covering “a large portion of the left side of his face,” finger marks along both legs and a bruise in the center of his back, the report says.

The doctor told deputies the imprints on the toddler’s legs — which were too big to have been made by a child — were caused by “excessive trauma to the area,” the report says, and the bruise on his back was caused by “a hard strike” which led to “a spinal process to damage the skin.”

The boy’s mother told deputies the toddler had no scratches or bruises when she last saw him around 6:30 p.m. Saturday as Snellings left a birthday party with the boy, the report says.

Snellings told police the only time he touched the child’s legs was to change a diaper, the report says.

Snellings told deputies he never struck the boy and couldn’t explain the bruises, the report says.

According to East Baton Rouge Parish court documents, Snellings and the child’s mother are in the midst of divorce proceedings.

Landrieu said Tuesday the incident is “a very private matter.” The toddler, “who Connor loves dearly,” is doing fine under the care of his mother, she said.

“It was an alcohol related situation where all the facts aren’t quite in yet. We’re handling it and appreciate people’s prayers,” Landrieu said. “Our family is working very closely together to give Connor the help and support he needs.”