Phelps County Courthouse, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
HOLDREGE — A mother who faced charges of intentional child abuse has had her case dismissed with prejudice in Phelps County Court.
Elaina Nietfeld, 22, of Grand Island, faced two charges of commit child abuse intentional – no injury, each a Class 3A felony.
On June 6, 2025, the Phelps County Attorney filed an order to dismiss the charged with prejudice. Dismissal with prejudice means that the plaintiff cannot refile the same claim again in that court.
The charges were related to an incident on May 21, 2024, when the Holdrege Police Department was contacted by the staff of CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney in reference to a possible incident of child abuse.
A four-month old infant girl had come from the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege and it was found that she was bleeding from her brain, had several fractures on her ribs that had already began to heal.
Due to the infant’s injuries, she was transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha. It was determined by the doctors in Omaha that the rib fractures were in various stages of healing and had occurred before the head trauma.
It was also reported anonymously that the infant had a full black eye prior to her being taken to the hospital and Children’s Hospital did note that there was a small bruise located above her left eye. Doctors stated that the infant was not capable of hurting herself to that extent.
The infant passed away at the Children’s Hospital on June 9, 2024.
The child’s father, Jason Remmenga pleaded no contest to negligent child abuse resulting in death. His sentencing has been set for Aug. 21 at 1 p.m.
