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| 42-year-old Jessica Vlasac / PCSO |
PCSO: Woman Asked Detectives If Her Ring Killed 3-Month-Old Baby
By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent
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LAKELAND, Fla. — A 42-year-old Lakeland woman has been arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse following the death of a 3-month-old baby who authorities say suffered multiple injuries to his head while in her care.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday, September 10, that Jessica Vlasac was taken into custody and charged with aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony.
According to an arrest affidavit provided by PCSO, deputies were called to Vlasac’s Lakeland home at approximately 11:58 p.m. Sunday, September 6, after receiving a report of an unresponsive infant.
The baby boy was transported to Orlando Health Medical in Lakeland, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Investigators said the infant had an abrasion and bruising on his head.
Vlasac initially told deputies she had accidentally fallen asleep with the baby in bed and did not remember what happened afterward. She said that when she woke up, she found the infant lying face down on the bed, unresponsive and cold to the touch.
According to the affidavit, Vlasac made statements including, “I think I killed our son,” and told investigators she believed something had happened while she was asleep.
An autopsy later revealed subdural hemorrhaging around the infant’s skull, according to PCSO.
Medical Examiner Dr. Stephen Nelson identified three separate impact injuries to the baby's head, located near the top of his forehead. Investigators said Nelson also documented an approximately 1.7-by-1-centimeter L-shaped injury on the baby's forehead that appeared consistent with an impact involving a square-like object.
Investigators Focus on Ring
Detectives interviewed Vlasac again following the autopsy and noticed she was wearing a ring containing a large, diamond-like stone with a square-like shape, according to the affidavit.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Vlasac’s electronic devices and the ring. PCSO said that during the search, Vlasac spontaneously asked investigators whether the ring was what had killed the infant.
Nelson later examined the confiscated ring and advised detectives that the infant's injuries were consistent with the ring being involved in at least part of the impact injuries, according to the sheriff's office.
PCSO said the medical examination found no evidence that co-sleeping caused the baby's death.
Messages From Night of Infant's Death
Other members of the household told detectives they did not notice anything suspicious before the infant was found unresponsive. They believed Vlasac and the baby were sleeping in her room and said they did not realize anything was wrong until they heard her screaming.
The infant's father told detectives that Vlasac could become violent after consuming alcohol, according to the affidavit.
He also provided investigators with messages exchanged between himself and Vlasac on the day of the incident.
According to PCSO, the messages indicated Vlasac purchased alcoholic shots around noon that day. Later that night, she allegedly sent multiple messages saying she had killed the infant and that he was dead. Investigators also reported that some messages had been deleted.
The father told detectives that Vlasac called him several days later and appeared unusually normal while discussing the baby's death. He also alleged that she asked him not to show investigators their messages.
Following the investigation and medical findings, deputies arrested Vlasac on Thursday.
She was booked into the Polk County Jail on a charge of aggravated child abuse resulting in the infant's death.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains ongoing.
Source: Polk County Sheriff’s Office — information provided directly to iSkyNews.com.
Editor’s note: An arrest and criminal charge are allegations. Vlasac is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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