On Monday, West Virginia police charged a woman with killing her newborn daughter, who was hospitalized with serious injuries on Thursday and succumbed to her injuries days later.
Brooke Kessler’s 16-day-old daughter was admitted to a Charleston hospital with various injuries that appeared non-accidental. The baby died on Sunday after being taken off life support, according to WCHS.
In addition to brain injuries, the newborn reportedly suffered a broken arm, six broken ribs, and bruising on the throat, head, and left eye.
Kessler’s husband allegedly told police that his wife has postpartum depression, while Kessler, 33, claimed she may have squeezed their daughter too hard while burping her.
Kessler was initially charged on Friday with child abuse, strangulation, and malicious assault. The charges were upgraded to death of a child by a parent following her daughter’s death.
Reports indicated that Kessler is awaiting arraignment on the new charges.
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[Featured image: Western Regional Jail]
