A Florida woman is behind bars after police allege she killed her infant daughter, then blamed it on a toddler who had been “rough” with the baby on different occasions.
Spectrum News reports that the incident happened at Polk County home on Tuesday. At around 10 p.m., Samantha Mariel Angeles-De La Rosa called police about an unresponsive infant. When first responders arrived, they found a 4-month-old baby with bruises all over her body.
The baby was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
“Despite their life-saving efforts, and the efforts of hospital staff, the victim was pronounced deceased at Winter Haven Hospital approximately one hour later,” officials said, according to Click Orlando.
When questioned by authorities, Angeles-De La Rosa allegedly said that a toddler pulled the baby off of a changing table. The infant fell, according to Angeles-De La Rosa, causing the injuries.
“[Angeles-De La Rosa] told deputies that a 21-month-old toddler in the home pulled the victim off of a changing table and onto the floor, causing the injuries that proved to be fatal. She was the only adult in the home at the time,” police said.
An autopsy determined the baby died from brain bleeding and contusions caused by a skull fracture.
“Medical Examiner Dr. Stephen Nelson advised that such injuries were caused by blunt force trauma and could not be caused by a 2-3 foot fall onto carpet,” police said.
The autopsy also revealed the infant had two rib fractures and an arm injury that appeared to be older and in the healing stages. Nelson told authorities that the older injuries were caused by “significant force” and were not accidental.
As investigators questioned the suspect further, she admitted that she thought about “how overwhelmed she is in life” when the baby kept crying. Angeles-De La Rosa then “lost it in a split second” and allegedly grabbed the baby by the shoulders and hit the infant’s head “hard” against a changing table.
The suspect then allegedly described previous instances of abuse, according to police.
“She said one time she got mad and squeezed the victim hard around her abdomen, causing her to cry. She stated that the incidents occurred ‘over the last several weeks.’ However, she continued to blame the baby’s death on the toddler pulling the baby off of a changing table.”
“There is absolutely no excuse to hurt a baby,” Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said. “We will hold this woman accountable for her actions.”
Angeles-De La Rosa remains behind bars without bond. She’s charged with second-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
If anyone suspects child abuse in Florida, contact the Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline at 800-962-2873.
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[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
