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A Garner toddler is reportedly in a “vegetative state” and may never recover after his parents allegedly inflicted serious injuries to his brain and spine, court records show.
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Kiran Pasunuri, the child’s father, was arrested in June on charges of child abuse, The News & Observer previously reported. Court records now indicate Pasunuri and his wife, Vasantha Pasunuri, are facing charges of attempted first-degree murder.
Court documents don’t specify how the toddler was allegedly injured, but an arrest warrant for Vasantha Pasunuri states part of the child’s skull had to be surgically removed to save his life.
The 2-year-old “is not expected to recover normal neurological or cognitive functioning” and may die, according to the warrant.
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Arrest warrants for the couple list the toddler’s injuries as hemorrhages to the brain, retinas and compression fractures of the T7 through T11 vertebrae. It’s not clear when the injuries may have occurred; an indictment for Kiran Pasunuri states the attempted murder occurred June 2, but other indictments for the couple allege they abused and didn’t get medical treatment for their son between Jan. 1 and June 1 of this year.
Garner police arrested Kiran Pasunuri on June 26, and he was charged with attempted murder the next day, while Vasantha Pasunuri wasn’t charged with child abuse or murder until Aug. 28, court records show. It’s not clear why there was a delay in charging her.
The Pasunuris remained in jail without bail as of Monday morning. If they are given a bail amount and post a secured bail bond, they may not have contact with the child and cannot be around minors without supervision, according to court documents.
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This story was originally published August 31, 2026 at 9:30 AM.