Maryland authorities said they received a report of suspected child abuse just after an infant was rushed to the hospital where she ultimately died of life-threatening injuries. Despite the mother’s version of the story, police determined she was behind the death.
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The 5-month-old daughter of 32-year-old Maya Dennis was rushed to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Saturday with “multiple skull fractures, brain bleeds, a fractured leg and other life-threatening ailments,” per the Harford County Sheriff’s Department. She succumbed to her injuries on New Year’s Eve.
Due to her condition, police were contacted by Child Protective Services and an investigation was launched into her death. WBAL-TV reported the babe had just left the NICU last week having been there since she was born. The only other person to be around the child besides her mother was a man prosecutors said was at Dennis’ home just before the baby was rushed to the hospital.
However, he was not named a person of interest. Dennis was.
In interviews with the police, Dennis said one of her other children was running around the home and “accidentally” fell on the child, per WJZ. However, warrants for Dennis’ phone records revealed text messages that claimed her child’s injuries were from her stay in the NICU, the report says.
Prosecutors determined because Dennis was the sole caretaker of the child when the injuries were inflicted and “made statements indicating she was responsible for the now fatal injuries,” she deserved to be held accountable.
Dennis was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree child abuse. It’s still unclear how the baby girl died. Though, prosecutors argue the injuries were not a simple “accident” considering the extent of them.
Dennis is being held in the Harford County Detention Center. She’s due in court on January 30.
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