A 29-year-old woman in Gainesville, Florida, faces charges after allegedly beating her toddler with a belt and her fists. The child suffered skull fractures and other injuries and remains in a medically induced coma.
Jessica Wilson is accused of aggravated child abuse in the incident and a separate count of child abuse from two days earlier. Authorities responded shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday to reports of an unconscious child at the Tower Oaks Glen Apartments.
Deputies say Wilson woke a friend who began CPR and urged her to call 911. Wilson refused, later telling investigators she feared getting in trouble due to the child's injuries. The friend eventually called emergency services while continuing CPR.
Wilson admitted to investigators that she became upset when the child did not listen and struck her with a belt and fists. She also allegedly stomped on the girl after pulling her back when she tried to get away. Two belts were recovered at the scene.
Alachua County Sheriff Chad Scott said the case shakes everyone to their core and pledged to pursue justice. The child underwent emergency surgery after arriving at a children's hospital.