Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Anecia Yvonne Graham, aged 22, was taken into custody yesterday on charges of aggravated child abuse after medical professionals discovered her four-month-old baby with multiple arm fractures.
On July 5, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy visited UF Health Shands Pediatric Hospital and was informed that the infant had six fractures in varying stages of healing, with one injury requiring immediate surgery. According to the arrest report, the baby had seven injuries – five in the left arm and two in the right arm.
During the deputy’s initial conversation with Graham, she claimed she heard a loud “pop” from the baby’s arms while swaddling, after which the baby stopped using the arm. Graham did not comment on whether the infant showed signs of pain. She reportedly admitted that this was her first child and confessed to being “a little rough” when feeling frustrated or overwhelmed.
The deputy visited Graham’s residence, and other occupants of the home reportedly said they worry about the baby when she is alone with Graham and that the baby cries “hysterically and in a way that is unsettling” when she is alone with Graham. One witness reportedly said Graham had left the baby alone in a room once, and when she returned, she said the baby had “fallen.”
Another witness was reportedly worried about the baby because another child was previously separated from Graham due to abuse. The deputy noted that Graham had said the baby was her first child, but he confirmed with the Department of Children and Families that she has another daughter who was placed with another family and eventually adopted because Graham was accused of abusing the child; that incident was in Pasco County in 2022.
The deputy reported that medical staff said the fractures were consistent with yanking/pulling/tugging and that the number of fractures was “alarmingly high” and not consistent with Graham’s statement that the injuries happened during swaddling. A surgeon reportedly said the injuries did not appear accidental and “were done to the child,” but the surgeon could not say whether the injuries were intentional.
The Child Protective Team determined that the findings pointed to child abuse, and the child will be placed with another family member when she is discharged from the hospital.
Post Miranda, Graham reportedly said she is frequently alone with the baby and sometimes feels overwhelmed and frustrated, particularly when the baby is “uncooperative with being changed or swaddled.” The deputy asked whether someone else was responsible for the injuries, and Graham reportedly said she “fully admit[ted]” that she had handled the baby “too aggressively.” She said she does not intentionally injure the child, but when she is frustrated, she may have injured the child.
Graham has been charged with aggravated child abuse. Her criminal history is unavailable at this time. Judge William Davis ordered her held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold her without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
