PANAMA CITY, FL - A woman in her twenties who is employed as a daycare worker allegedly took out her frustrations on a three-month-old boy by repeatedly slamming him in his crib after she received an upsetting text message.
The woman, 26-year-old LaKayla E. Hamilton, faces two counts of aggravated child abuse. She was arrested and taken to the Bay County Jail on a $2 million bond, according to Law & Crime. The Bay County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) said the little boy suffered skull fractures, broken ribs, and a broken leg. He also suffered extensive bruising on his head and face.
The alleged incident occurred on Wednesday, May 13, at Quality Learning Child Care Center, Inc. in Panama City. A probable cause affidavit said police responded to a local hospital after nurses determined the boy had been abused. The boy's parents said he was fine when they dropped him off at the daycare that morning.
Detectives spoke with Hamilton, who was in charge of the boy's care on the day in question. She initially pretended she was unaware of the boy's injuries, claiming he seemed to be OK other than not eating during the day, according to the affidavit.
In a second interview, she allegedly changed her story. This time, she said she was picking up the boy when she tripped on a toy, causing her to drop the infant on the floor. Confronted with the fact that the boy's injuries did not meet her explanation, she finally admitted to the truth, police said.
Hamilton allegedly admitted to being in a "bad mood" on Wednesday because of issues in her personal life. She said she received a text message that morning that upset her. She then "spazzed out," authorities wrote.
Using a doll, she reenacted how she repeatedly slammed the boy in his crib and into a changing table, and also hit him in the head with toys, according to police. She was also frustrated that he was crying.
"In total, the defendant confessed to slamming the victim into his crib between approximately 5-10 times, slamming him into a changing table approximately 5-10 times, and striking him in the head with toys an unknown amount of times," detectives wrote.
She said she was unable to provide specifics about the abuse because "she was so enraged," the affidavit said. Hamilton said she also abused the boy in the same manner later in the day, police said. The boy would have likely died had his mother not sought immediate medical attention. He is now in stable condition.
Hamilton's next court date is set for June 15.
Comments