Provo woman is accused of shaking her baby

PROVO — A Provo woman is accused of violently shaking her baby son in an attempt to make him stop crying.

The woman, 23, was arrested and booked Monday into the Utah County Jail for investigation of aggravated child abuse. Bail was set at $15,000 cash-only.

Police interviewed the woman when medical officials at Primary Children's Medical Center found lacerations on the right frontal lobe of the 6-week-old child's brain, according to a police report filed in 4th District Court.

"There was some brain damage that occurred, but the baby seems to be doing fine now and is with family members," said Provo Police Capt. Rick Healey.

The woman initially told hospital staff and police investigators at the hospital on Oct. 13, the day the infant was taken to the hospital, that the child had fallen off the bed on Sept. 25 at an apartment near 370 S. University Ave., Provo.

However, according to the report, she changed her story when doctor said the injuries were consistent with a baby being shaken, instead of from a fall.

Then, the woman allegedly demonstrated with a doll how she shook her baby back and forth violently to stop the crying. She said she was in pain and got frustrated with the child. She also didn't want him to wake up her husband who was sleeping in the next room, according to the report.

"She said she knew she had hurt the infant as his entire head turned red and his cry became a 'scream,' according to the police report.

The baby returned home with the father and other family members. Workers with Child Protective Services were monitoring the child and the mother was ordered to have no contact with the baby, Healey said.

The woman has no other children.

However, the woman violated the no-contact order and on Monday went to see the baby, Healey said. While she was there, she began hitting her husband. Someone in the home called police to report the domestic violence, Healey said.

"She was found to be assaulting the baby's father who was attempting to protect the infant," according to the police report.

Both the woman and her husband were taken into custody Monday — the woman for investigation of aggravated child abuse and her husband on $5,000 cash or bond bail for investigation of identity fraud, as well as allegations of aggravated re-entry into the country.

The woman has also been ordered by the court to have no contact with her husband or the baby if she is able to bail out of jail.

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