A 31-year-old mother in Texas is facing the death penalty after reportedly beating her 3-month-old daughter to death, conducting an online search on her baby being “shooken,” and blaming her child’s deadly injuries on her 17-month-old child.
Travis County authorities filed documents on Monday charging Brittney Bailey with one count of capital murder of an individual under the age of six in connection with her child’s death, according to records reviewed by Law&Crime.
According to a news statement from the Austin, Texas Police Department, the investigation into Bailey began on March 10 at 11:14 p.m. when officers responded to The Revl Apartments in the 5000 block of North Lamar Boulevard for a 3-month-old child who was not breathing. The county fire department and emergency medical services were also called to the apartment complex.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene, they quickly discovered the victim and began administering life-saving procedures. The sufferer was taken to a local hospital for additional assessment and treatment. Unfortunately, the baby died from their injuries on March 15.
Authorities did not specify the victim’s cause of death, but did state that her twin sister looked to have been physically mistreated.
“During the initial investigation, detectives uncovered evidence concerning the decedent’s twin sister having non-accidental injuries,” the news release stated. “Child Abuse Detectives have arrested and charged Brittney Alisha Bailey, for Injury to a Child, a first-degree felony, for the injuries sustained by the decedent’s twin sister.”
Bailey first told officials that after changing the victim’s diaper, she went to wash her hands, but the victim rolled off the changing bed, striking her head and vomiting. Bailey eventually blamed the victim’s injuries on her 17-month-old child.
According to Austin ABC affiliate KVUE, in a March 21 interview at the police station, Bailey claimed that her toddler was responsible for the victim’s fatal injuries. However, when police presented her with evidence that such a scenario was impossible, she reportedly nodded in agreement, asked to use the restroom, and then quickly left the station.
Bailey was arrested on a child injury charge after allegedly abusing her surviving infant. She was released after paying a $250 bond.
The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and produced a report on Oct. 4, determining that the victim’s manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, KVUE reported. The study also stated that the victim’s injuries were “highly suggestive” of earlier head trauma.
According to a newly revealed court document obtained by the station, Bailey searched the internet in the days leading up to her child’s murder for “how do I know if my baby has been hurt or shooken.”
Bailey is being jailed at the Travis County Jail on a $600,000 bond. She is expected to appear in court on November 14.
Leave a Reply