A neglect charge stemming from an August medical exam in Perry County, Kentucky, has raised alarms about access to timely pediatric care in rural communities, a development that Perry County residents across the state line should watch closely. According to an affidavit and Henderson County court records cited by Eyewitness News on October 17, 2025, a juvenile under the care of 48-year-old Beth Coyle was taken to a Perry County medical clinic on August 22, 2025, where providers recommended follow-up treatment. Authorities allege Coyle did not arrange transportation for that follow-up care, and complications from the untreated condition later required emergency surgery in September 2025 to remove an organ.

Henderson County prosecutors filed a child neglect charge against Coyle in October based on the affidavit evidence and related court documents, which are public on the Kentucky Court of Justice dockets. Court filings note Coyle has a prior 2023 conviction for child molestation and was sentenced to probation, an element prosecutors say adds context to the current welfare concerns. The juvenile’s identity remains protected under standard privacy rules for minors.

The case was reported by WEHT Eyewitness News on October 17 and has not been the subject of widespread coverage beyond that report as of October 20, 2025. Local officials in Perry County, Indiana, where many families face similar rural barriers, say the matter underscores how lapses in transport, follow-up and oversight can quickly escalate into medical emergencies that strain regional hospitals and emergency services. Deaconess Henderson and other area hospitals frequently receive cross-county and cross-state patient transfers, making timely primary and follow-up care a communitywide concern.

Investigators with the Perry County sheriff’s office pursued the neglect charge in this case, and documents indicate involvement by child protective services and Henderson County courts, which sometimes handle overflow juvenile matters from neighboring counties. Records do not yet clarify whether the juvenile was in detention at the time or what role, if any, county facilities had in oversight. Those details, along with the outcome of Coyle’s October court appearance, remain subject to further verification as proceedings continue.

For Perry County residents, the story presents tangible local implications. Rural families often face transportation challenges, tight household budgets and limited access to pediatric specialists—all factors that can impede timely medical care. Advocates say the case highlights the need for stronger safety-net supports, clearer protocols for at-risk youth, and improved coordination between clinics, social services and law enforcement to prevent delays that can result in serious harm.

Officials in both counties have yet to announce a policy review, but court watchers and child welfare advocates will be monitoring Henderson County dockets for plea developments and any referrals to Perry County Family Court Services. As the legal process unfolds, community leaders say the episode is a prompt for neighbors, schools and health providers to reexamine local supports that help families follow through on recommended medical care for children.