A Gainesville woman was charged with second-degree murder June 21 after her 2-year-old daughter died days after being severely beaten and placed in a medically induced coma, according to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Jessica Neathea Wilson, 29, was already being held at the Alachua County Jail on a charge of aggravated child abuse. The charge was upgraded to second-degree murder following the child’s death.
Deputies responded the night of June 18 to a reported medical emergency at Tower Oaks Apartments, 1717 SW 69th Terrace, where they found the child unresponsive and rushed her to paramedics for transport to UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in critical condition.
A witness in the apartment told investigators she woke to find the child having a seizure and unresponsive and urged Wilson to call 911. When Wilson did not, the witness began CPR and called 911 herself, and told deputies she had also noticed bruising and prior injuries to the child days earlier. According to the witness, Wilson did not want to call police because she would get in trouble.
Medical staff later reported the child suffered severe injuries, including skull fractures, extensive bruising to the head, chest and back, and possible internal bleeding, and was placed in a medically induced coma.
During an interview with detectives, Wilson said the child was not listening and was being punished with a belt. She said she “went too far” and admitted beating the child with her hands, fists and feet, including striking her in the head and body and stomping on her back while the child lay on the floor, according to the report.
Wilson also acknowledged that she had beaten the child days earlier, causing a bloody lip and additional bruising, according to the report.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville woman faces second-degree murder charge in death of child
Reporting by Staff report, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Staff report, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
