Investigators say the child endured a brain bleed and fractured vertebrae before receiving lifesaving hospital treatment.

GARNER, N.C. — A North Carolina father is accused of critically injuring his 2-year-old child and failing to seek immediate medical care even though the toddler’s condition was visibly serious, according to court records and local authorities. Kiran Pasunuri, 44, faces attempted first-degree murder and four felony child abuse charges in Wake County.

The case centers not only on the injuries authorities say the toddler suffered, but also on the time that passed before the child reached a hospital. Arrest documents allege the injuries were “immediately apparent” and that Pasunuri’s failure to obtain prompt treatment allowed the child’s pain, bleeding and physical damage to continue. The records reviewed by news organizations do not state precisely how long the delay lasted or describe what happened inside the home during that period.

Authorities say the episode occurred June 2 while Pasunuri was with the child in Wake County. Investigators have accused him of inflicting life-threatening trauma to the toddler’s head and back. The available court records do not provide a detailed account of the alleged assault, identify a possible motive or explain what led to the child’s injuries. Police have not publicly released a full timeline of Pasunuri’s actions that day.

The child was eventually taken to a local hospital, where doctors found a major brain bleed and compression fractures involving several vertebrae, according to reports based on the court documents. The toddler also suffered retinal hemorrhaging. Medical workers performed emergency procedures that included removing part of the child’s skull to relieve pressure caused by the head injury. Authorities have described those measures as necessary to save the child’s life.

The medical findings became central to the police investigation. Garner officers worked with hospital personnel and the Wake County District Attorney’s Office to determine how the injuries occurred and whether the child received care when the seriousness of the condition should have been clear. The records accuse Pasunuri of both causing serious bodily injury and neglecting the toddler’s need for medical attention, creating separate legal theories within the same criminal case. Pasunuri was arrested June 25, more than three weeks after the child was hospitalized. He was initially charged with two counts of felony intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury and two counts of felony negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury. The intentional-abuse counts address allegations that he directly caused the injuries, while the negligent-abuse counts relate to the alleged failure to respond properly after the child was hurt.

Police added an attempted first-degree murder charge June 27. That accusation substantially raised the stakes of the prosecution because it alleges more than the infliction of serious harm. It asserts that Pasunuri attempted to take the child’s life. The public records reviewed for this report do not describe the evidence prosecutors believe establishes an intent to kill, and the filing of a charge is not proof that the defendant committed the offense. The available reporting has provided differing descriptions of Pasunuri’s custody conditions. Court information cited by WRAL stated that he was being held in the Wake County Detention Center under a $200,000 bond, while another report said the attempted murder count carried no bond. Such conditions can apply differently to separate charges in the same case. No later authoritative public record clarifying the complete bond structure was located for this report.

A judge also ordered Pasunuri to have no contact with the child. No-contact orders are intended to separate a defendant from an alleged victim while a criminal case proceeds. The order does not determine guilt, but it restricts communication or physical contact unless a court later changes the conditions. Public reports have not said whether the restriction covers indirect contact through other people or whether separate family-court proceedings are underway. The toddler’s current medical condition has not been publicly released. The original arrest documents described the injuries and emergency treatment but did not say whether the child remained hospitalized, had regained normal neurological function or faced lasting effects from the brain and spinal trauma. Authorities also have not disclosed who now has custody of the child or whether social service agencies have taken formal action.

The sequence described by investigators makes the timing of medical care an important part of the case. Prosecutors would need to prove the elements of each charge with admissible evidence, which could include medical records, expert testimony, witness statements and information establishing when the injuries occurred. The defense would have an opportunity to challenge the medical conclusions, the alleged timeline and any claim that Pasunuri intentionally harmed the toddler or knowingly delayed treatment.

Much of that evidence has not yet been made public. The arrest records offer a summary of the allegations rather than a complete presentation of the state’s case. They do not identify all witnesses, explain who transported the child to the hospital or state what Pasunuri told investigators. They also do not disclose whether police searched a residence, collected electronic evidence or recovered anything they believe is connected to the injuries.

Pasunuri’s next court appearance was listed for July 20 in early reports about the case. No reliable public update describing the outcome of that proceeding was located. The attempted murder and child abuse charges remain allegations, and Pasunuri is presumed innocent unless he is convicted in court. Garner police have said the investigation is continuing with assistance from medical professionals and the Wake County District Attorney’s Office.

Author note: Last updated July 26, 2026.