A 29-year-old Florida woman allegedly beat her 2-year-old with a belt, then punched and stomped the toddler for not listening, inflicting skull fractures and possible internal bleeding.
Authorities charged Jessica Wilson, 29, with aggravated child abuse for that incident, as well as a second count of child abuse for a separate act of physical violence that took place two days earlier, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said.
Shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday, paramedics and deputies responded to the Tower Oaks neighborhood in Gainesville following a report of an unconscious, non-breathing child. A deputy carried the toddler to a waiting ambulance, where paramedics performed lifesaving measures before rushing her to a children’s hospital. Authorities noted the child had “significant bruising.”
Investigators later learned that Wilson and the child had been staying with a friend at the complex for about two weeks. Deputies say Wilson woke her friend and told her the child was not breathing. The friend began CPR and urged Wilson to call 911.
“Wilson refused, and after multiple pleas, the friend called 911 herself while continuing CPR,” cops wrote. “While deputies and paramedics were on scene, Wilson made statements indicating she was responsible for harming the child.”
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by the Alachua Chronicle, Wilson told investigators she did not want to call 911 because she knew she would get in trouble over the child’s injuries.
After arriving at the hospital, the child was placed in a medically induced coma. She had suffered skull fractures, bruises to the back, and possible internal bleeding, the affidavit reportedly said. Doctors performed emergency surgery as the girl’s condition deteriorated, per cops.
Speaking post-Miranda, Wilson reportedly said she became upset because her daughter was not listening, so she began beating her with a belt and her fists.
When the child tried to get away, Wilson allegedly pulled her back and began stomping her. She reportedly admitted she “went too far.”
Authorities recovered two belts at the scene.
“What happened to this child shakes every one of us to our core. No child should ever endure this kind of suffering,” Alachua County Sheriff Chad Scott said in a statement. “As this young child fights for their life, under the care of dedicated medical professionals, our prayers are with them. I am incredibly proud of the deputies, paramedics, and detectives who acted with urgency, compassion, and determination in the face of such a heartbreaking situation. We will continue to stand for this child and pursue justice with everything we have.”
Chris Sims, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, told WCJB that resources exist for parents who feel overwhelmed.
“I beg our community, if you feel overwhelmed as a parent, if you feel overwhelmed as a caregiver, if you just cannot control your anger toward your child, please reach out,” said Chris Sims, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office PIO. “Call us, call the Department of Children and Families, call a trusted family member to get a break for a few days or a weekend.”
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