A Florida nurse has been arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse resulting in death after her infant son died from severe head injuries, authorities said. Jessica Vlasac, 42, called 911 on September 6, reporting her 3-month-old son, August Lionel, unresponsive in her Lakeland home.
Paramedics transported the infant to Orlando Health Medical hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Vlasac initially told deputies she had fallen asleep with the baby and awoke to find him face down and cold.
However, investigators discovered an abrasion and bruising on the infant's head. The baby's father told detectives that Vlasac becomes violent when she drinks alcohol and alleged that she had purchased alcohol earlier on the day of the incident. He reportedly showed investigators text messages Vlasac sent that night stating she had killed the infant.
An autopsy report revealed that August Lionel suffered subdural hemorrhaging around his skull and three distinct injuries to his head. The coroner noted that one injury appeared consistent with being caused by a small, square-like object. The autopsy found no evidence that co-sleeping contributed to the baby's death.
During the investigation, detectives observed a large, diamond-like stone on Vlasac's ring finger that they noted was consistent with the injury described in the autopsy report. Investigators confiscated her ring and electronic devices. While the search was underway, Vlasac allegedly asked if the ring was what killed her son.
Investigators also determined that Vlasac had deleted messages from her phone and had urged the infant's father not to show detectives their communications. Other individuals in the home at the time reported that Vlasac had been caring for the baby alone in her room and that they were unaware of any suspicious activity until they heard her screaming.
Vlasac was arrested on September 12 and booked into the Polk County Jail. She is currently being held without bond and is scheduled for a pre-trial detention hearing on Thursday, with her arraignment set for October 13. The Polk County Sheriff's Office stated that their investigation is ongoing.