A Florida mother has been arrested and accused of killing her three-month-old son after investigators linked injuries to a large square-shaped ring she was wearing.
Jessica Vlasac was arrested on Thursday after the infant suffered several blows to the head, according to police. She has been booked on a charge of aggravated child abuse resulting in death.
Vlasac initially told officers she had accidentally fallen asleep with the baby and woke to find him face down and unresponsive. She allegedly later told the child’s father: “I think I killed our son.”
However, authorities say the medical examiner found bleeding around the infant’s skull and three separate impact injuries to his head. One of the wounds was L-shaped and considered consistent with contact from a square-edged object.
Detectives noticed Vlasac was wearing a large, diamond-like square ring and later seized it as evidence. Police say she asked whether the ring had killed the baby.
The medical examiner subsequently said the injuries were consistent with the infant being struck by a ring, according to investigators. Authorities also said co-sleeping did not cause the child’s death.
Investigators said the baby’s father showed them messages suggesting Vlasac had bought alcoholic shots earlier that day. He allegedly told officers that she became violent when she drank and that she had asked him not to show detectives the messages.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
