Mother of comatose Apex boy charged with abuse

Apex, N.C. — An Apex woman was charged Friday with felony child abuse in connection with an incident last month that left her 3-year-old adopted son in a coma.

Michele Stein, 39, of 121 Homegate Circle, was being held under a $200,000 bond.

Adam Stein was taken to WakeMed on March 19 with severe head trauma and was transferred to Duke University Hospital after undergoing emergency surgery and developing complications, according to court documents. His parents told paramedics and police that he had fallen down the stairs earlier that day and then couldn't be awakened from a nap.

Medical experts said the boy's injuries weren't consistent with a fall down the staircase of the family's home, and police noted two previous allegations of abuse and neglect had been filed with Wake County Child Protective Services, although abuse wasn't substantiated in either incident.

The Steins adopted Adam from an orphanage in China last November, according to court documents.

Investigators searched the Steins' home last month and seized pictures and a phone bill.