A Phoenix caregiver is facing felony child-abuse charges after a 3-month-old boy was rushed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital around Christmas with severe head injuries, according to court records and police. The case, which started in late December, moved forward this month as new medical test results and additional court paperwork came in, prosecutors say.
Police: Infant Arrived With Brain Bleeds and Fractures
Investigators say the crisis began on Dec. 25, when the infant started twitching. His condition allegedly worsened the next morning, prompting a 911 call and an emergency transfer to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Doctors and court documents later described multiple brain bleeds, a right skull fracture, and healing fractures on the baby’s ribs and a leg. Hospital staff told detectives they believed the brain injury was tied to a lack of oxygen, according to Arizona's Family.
Medical Context: Why Those Injuries Raise Alarm
Child-abuse and pediatric trauma specialists note that a combination of intracranial hemorrhage, skull fractures, and rib or long-bone fractures in an infant is a classic red flag that typically triggers an intensive criminal and medical investigation. Those injuries often lead to seizures and can cause oxygen deprivation, which can worsen brain damage and create a high risk of long-term impairment, according to a technical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Investigators Point to Caregiver's Drug Use and Test Results
Police identified 24-year-old Dajsia Walker as the primary caregiver during the likely period when the injuries occurred. According to court paperwork, she initially told officers she did not know how the boy was hurt, then later admitted to using marijuana and, after a search warrant, to past cocaine use. Investigators say a hair test, which can detect drug exposure over a multi-month window, came back positive for cocaine. Walker told officers she had used cocaine with a friend 24 to 48 hours earlier and could not explain the infant’s injuries, per Arizona's Family.
Hair analysis is commonly used to detect drug use over longer periods, and research in Addictive Behaviors notes that hair testing typically offers a much longer detection window than standard urine screens.
Legal Next Steps
Court records state that Walker was booked on two counts of child abuse and is being held on a $75,000 bond. Under Arizona law (A.R.S. 13-3623), child-abuse offenses can be charged at different felony levels depending on whether prosecutors allege intentional conduct, recklessness, or criminal negligence, with penalties that vary accordingly. The statute outlines the specific classifications and potential penalties for each type of allegation (A.R.S. 13-3623).
The investigation remains active, and authorities say they are continuing to review medical records and court filings. Phoenix police are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the department.
