An Iowa woman was arrested last month after a months-long investigation determined that she had purposefully injured her infant son.
According to court records, Emma Ann Swanson, 22, neglected to provide sufficient nutrition and medical care for her child, who was diagnosed with failure to thrive at just 2 months old, as reported by The Messenger. At that point, the infant was severely underweight, a situation Swanson admitted she recognized but did not attempt to remedy.
In July, an affidavit revealed that the child suffered a seizure. Instead of seeking medical help, Swanson opted to film the episode on her cell phone. The child experienced additional seizures in October.
In September, court records indicate that Swanson used “unreasonable force” on the infant, leading to bruising and swelling in the genital area. Once again, she failed to obtain medical care, allowing the condition to deteriorate.
In early October, she “intentionally used unreasonable force, including shaking or striking,” and caused serious injuries, including a skull fracture, subdural hematomas, and hemorrhages. The injuries caused severe damage to one eye and caused a stroke.
Swanson left the baby with her boyfriend in early October, and he urged her to take the child to a hospital, which she delayed for two more days before taking him to an emergency room, where she told staff that the boy had fallen from a swing onto a carpeted floor. The child’s condition was so severe that he was transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where doctors determined that the boy’s injuries were caused by non-accidental trauma and not from the six-inch fall that she claimed.
When questioned by police, Swanson “appeared unfazed, blamed medical staff for malpractice and posted on social media, suggesting a lack of accountability.”
Medical officials said that Swanson’s behavior indicated a specific intent to cause harm.
Court documents did not provide an update on the child’s condition or say where he was now. The documents also did not indicate why no charges were filed for months.
Swanson has been charged with child endangerment and willful injury causing serious injury, KCCI reported. Her arraignment is set for June 16.
