Man sentenced after severely abusing 4-month-old, causing permanent brain damage

WESTON, W.Va (WDTV/Gray News) - A man was sentenced after severely abusing a 4-month-old baby, fracturing the baby’s skull, causing a brain bleed and permanent brain damage.

Eric Auen Jr. was sentenced to seven to 35 years in prison on several child abuse charges. He will also serve 50 years of supervised release after his prison term.

Auen and Alexis Benedum were indicted in April after the baby was admitted to WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital in December 2024. The 4-month-old baby had a brain bleed, a fractured skull, bleeding behind the eyes, broken ribs, organ damage and bruises on numerous parts of his body.

Auen was physically abusing the baby and Benedum did not report the baby’s injuries, deputies said.

Benedum was sentenced to three to 15 years in prison on child neglect charges in September.

The guardian of the baby said the child now has permanent brain damage.

During sentencing, Auen said he “deserves to be going” where he is going.

The judge in the case said this was the most severe case of child abuse he had seen where the child lived.

According to deputies, the child’s grandparents, Stephen and Kristina Benedum, were aware of the abuse. Katelyn Bunch, a social worker, was also allegedly aware of the abuse and was called to the home to investigate when the baby was 2 months old. All three are charged with six counts of child neglect.