A 23-year-old Lakeland mother is facing aggravated child abuse charges after police say she admitted throwing her infant into a playpen on a tile floor. The baby later died at a hospital from injuries sustained in the incident.
According to Fox 13 Tampa Bay, the woman told Lakeland police detectives what happened during an investigation into the baby's death. The report did not identify the mother or the infant by name.
Police said the infant was taken for medical care after being injured and later died at the hospital. The available account does not provide additional details about when the alleged assault occurred or what prompted the confrontation.
What The Aggravated Child Abuse Charge Means
Florida law defines aggravated child abuse to include knowingly or willfully abusing a child and causing great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement. The Florida Legislature classifies aggravated child abuse as a first-degree felony.
The charge is an allegation, and it is not a conviction. Fox 13's report identifies aggravated child abuse as the charge currently facing the woman; it does not report whether prosecutors have filed any separate homicide charge.
The case is expected to move through the criminal court system as investigators and prosecutors review the circumstances surrounding the infant's death.
