Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested a woman for Aggravated Child Abuse after a 5-month-old male suffered a traumatic brain injury in Palm Harbor.
According to detectives, their investigation began on Friday, September 27, 2019, when they were notified by detectives from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office of a suspicious incident involving a 5-month-old child with life-threatening injuries.
Detectives say earlier that same day, 30-year-old Burgandie Marquez stopped at a Mobil Gas Station in Pasco County with her 5-month-old son, complaining that the child was having seizures and needed medical attention.
Paramedics responded to the gas station and airlifted the child to St. Joseph’s Hospital for life threatening injuries.
Medical staff at the hospital informed detectives that the child suffered a severe brain bleed caused by head trauma.
Through the investigation, detectives learned that Marquez and the child had been staying at a residence in Palm Harbor.
Witnesses told detectives that the child appeared in good health on September, 25, 2019.
Detectives say Marquez was the sole caretaker of child from September 23, 2019, until the medical issue was reported on September 27, 2019.
Detectives interviewed Marquez on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building located at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo.
During the interview, Marquez gave contradictory statements about how the child was injured.
Marquez admitted to detectives she was at the Palm Harbor residence with the child on Thursday, September 26, 2019, when she became enraged during a phone conversation with the child’s father. She told detectives she intentionally and forcefully jerked the child up from the ground twice causing the child’s head to snap backward.
Marquez said she then placed the child underneath her arm and ran up and down the stairs inside the residence allowing the child’s head to bounce up and down without support.
Marquez admitted to detectives she knew she had been too rough with the child.
Marquez claimed that on the morning of September 27, 2019, she noticed the child was having seizures; however, she tried consoling the child and never sought medical attention.
Detectives say later that afternoon, Marquez took the child to Pasco County to meet the child’s father but stopped at a Mobil Gas Station when the child’s medical condition worsened.
Detectives arrested Marquez and transported her to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.
Marquez was charged with one count of Aggravated Child Abuse with Great Bodily Harm.
On Tuesday, October 1st, detectives say the 5-month-old died from his injuries.
Detectives say the child was taken off life support at St. Joseph’s Hospital and was pronounced deceased at about 1:45 p.m. on Monday, September 30, 2019.
An autopsy will be conducted by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Detectives will wait for the results of the autopsy to determine if they will upgrade the criminal charges for the child’s mother, 30-year-old Burgandie Marquez.