5-Month-Old Admitted to Hospital with a Skull Fracture After Allegedly Being Punched by an Adult Woman By Raven Brunner

A 5-month-old was admitted to the hospital with a skull fracture after allegedly being punched by an adult woman in Florida.

On Thursday, Oct. 16, around 10:56 a.m. local time, a detective with the Fort Pierce Police Department (FPPD) notified the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office (LSCO) that the infant was taken to a local hospital “with serious injuries,” according to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office. 

The baby sustained a fractured skull and bruising to an arm and a leg, among other injuries, police said.

Det. P. Taylor with the sheriff’s office investigated the incident and found through interviews and evidence collection that the injuries “occurred during a domestic altercation.”

The alleged altercation involved suspect Georgeina Hayes, 38, and an adult female victim, according to the LSCO. 

Hayes reportedly attempted to strangle the adult victim during the altercation, but the other woman was able to break free, grabbed the infant and made her way to a bedroom for protection, per police.

“As she tried to close the door, Hayes began throwing punches, several of which struck the five-month-old infant. The blows resulted in the injuries to the infant,” the LSCO said.

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Hayes was arrested and taken to the St. Lucie County Jail. She was charged with battery by strangulation (domestic) and aggravated child abuse. 

The woman’s bond is set at $55,000. It is unclear if she currently has legal representation to comment on her behalf.

Details of the infant’s current condition have not been released. It is unclear what Hayes and the other woman’s relationship is to the child.

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“The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office thanks FPPD for the swift coordination between agencies and remains committed to pursuing justice for the most vulnerable members of our community,” the LSCO said.

PEOPLE reached out to the LSCO and the FPPD for additional information on Oct. 19, but did not immediately hear back.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.