A 50-year-old California woman has been arrested after a 3-month-old baby she was caring for was rushed into emergency surgery for severe head trauma.
Doctors said the injuries the baby suffered “were not consistent with any type of fall,” the Madera County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies were called to the scene on January 13, the sheriff’s office said. The babysitter, Tonya Hamilton, was arrested on Friday.
Baby Braxton’s father, Chris Musselman, told KSEE that Hamilton had called his wife on January 13 said she had fallen on the baby “and woke up and he was unresponsive at that time.”
The surgery last for six hours, and when it was over the surgeon spoke with the frightened parents.
“He explained to us that his injuries weren’t consistent with a fall … they were consistent with a baby that had been shaken. And at that point he had no other choice as a mandatory reporter to involve CPS and involve the authorities,” Musselman said.
The baby is out of intensive care and is no longer on a breathing tube, Musselman said, but his recovery will be a long one.
Braxton’s mom, Tori Nelson, said doctors had to remove part of the baby’s skull but they’ve finally been allowed to hold the child again.
Hamilton, meanwhile, has been released on bail and is due in court again on March 9, KFSN reported. The sheriff’s office said she faces “felony child abuse” charges.
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[Featured image: Baby Braxton/GoFundMe]