Florida – A Florida woman was arrested in Georgia and extradited to Florida, where she was booked into the county jail after allegedly poisoning an 11-month-oId baby with a vehicIe cooIant while under her care. She faces multiple felony charges, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated chiId abuse, and aduIterating food or drink.
The incident occurred earlier this year, when the child was dropped off at the defendant’s home in good health. By mid-afternoon, the child exhibited concerning symptoms, including lethargy and vomiting. The child’s mother and grandmother noticed the unusual behavior and took the baby to a local emergency room. Medical tests revealed the presence of ethyIene gIycoI, the toxic component found in ant ifreeze.
According to the Florida authorities, when the child’s family member picked him up from the woman’s house around 3:25 p.m., she noticed he was sleepier than usual. The child then slept for roughly two more hours before his mother came to retrieve him. The mother and grandmother quickly realized something was wrong.
Earlier, at around 2:25 p.m., the defendant had texted the baby’s mother saying the child was tired and asked if she could put him down for a nap, which the mother allowed. When the child was moved from one car seat to another, the grandmother grew concerned because he seemed lethargic, lacked alertness, and was even unable to hold his head up. While with his mother, the child began to vomit, with the mother noting that the vomit was abnormal—particularly smelly, sticky, and clear in appearance. After this, the mother called her husband and rushed the child to the emergency room.
The child went into cardiac arrest and required CPR and life support. He was transferred between three hospitals before stabilizing. Doctors confirmed the poisoning and noted that the extent of renal damage was yet to be determined.
Initially, doctors suspected the child had the flu or pneumonia, but events at the hospitals soon indicated a more serious problem, police said. The child was placed in a hospital room but was quickly moved to the ICU and intubated after suffering a full cardiac arrest. After 10 minutes of CPR, the boy was successfully revived.
Investigators found two jugs of antifreeze in the defendant’s garage, one of which was opened with approximately 2 cups missing. Forensic experts determined that the poisoning occurred during the time the child was in the defendant’s care.
The defendant denied any wrongdoing, claiming the child was never out of her sight and that she did not access the garage where the cooIant was stored. However, detectives found evidence contradicting her statements. She was arrested in Georgia, and extradited to Florida, where she was booked into the county jail. Her bond was set at $600,000.
This case is not the woman’s first encounter with law enforcement. In 2014, she was questioned in a separate investigation involving a 6-month-old infant who became critically ill after being in her care. The child exhibited symptoms consistent with poisoning, but there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges at that time.
Records from the Florida Department of Children and Families indicate that the defendant was not a licensed or registered family daycare provider. She was not authorized to offer child care services in her home.
The child’s family has expressed relief that the child survived the ordeal but remains concerned about potential long-term health effects. They are awaiting further medical evaluations to assess any lasting damage. The investigation into the woman’s actions continues, with Florida authorities reviewing all available evidence to ensure justice is served.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and due diligence when selecting caregivers for children. It underscores the importance of ensuring that those entrusted with the care of young ones are properly vetted and authorized to provide such services.
As the legal process progresses, all parties involved await the outcomes of the investigation and any subsequent legal actions that may follow. The community remains hopeful that justice will be served and that the child will continue to recover from this traumatic experience.
Woman cIaims the baby was normaI when he was dropped off and that she never took the 11-month-old chiId into the garage where they stored the vehicIe cooIant after using the fIuid to harm him, causing nearIy fataI injuries: DA
