KEY WEST — A 19-year-old daycare worker accused of hitting an infant was arrested on Wednesday following a state investigation, according to an arrest affidavit.
The woman was charged with felony child abuse without causing great bodily harm.
The child’s mother contacted authorities on Dec. 11 after picking up the child and finding a large bruise on the child’s bottom, which the suspect said was caused by the child falling while trying to walk, reports say.
Subsequent interviews and follow-up investigations followed by local police and state family welfare agents, who allege the woman changed her story about what happened three times: Stating first the child fell while walking, then from falling from a couch and then from falling from a bed, reports say.
A nurse at the University of Miami School of Medicine-Child Protection Team concluded the bruise as having “partial hand print marks,” reports say.
The woman was taken to the Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island and released the same day on pre-trial release, meaning she didn’t have to post a bail, but could later if she violates the terms of her release.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that could help solve a crime in the Florida Keys, call Crime Stoppers, 800-346-TIPS.