A 29-year-old Gainesville woman has been arrested on aggravated child abuse and child abuse charges after Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical emergency involving her 2-year-old child.
According to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) release, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center received a 911 call around 9:17 p.m. on Thursday from a residence in the Tower Oaks neighborhood reporting that a 2-year-old child was unconscious and not breathing.
Deputies and Alachua County Fire Rescue paramedics responded immediately. Upon arrival, a deputy carried the child to a waiting ambulance, where paramedics began advanced life-saving measures. The child, who was suffering from life-threatening injuries, was transported to UF Health’s pediatric emergency department.
While at the scene, deputies and paramedics observed significant bruising on the child, prompting a criminal investigation. Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the residence.
According to investigators, detectives determined the injuries had been inflicted by the child’s mother, Jessica Wilson.
Investigators said Wilson and her child had been staying with a friend in the Tower Oaks neighborhood for approximately two and a half weeks. During the late evening hours of June 18, Wilson reportedly woke the friend and handed over the unresponsive child, who did not appear to be breathing.
The friend immediately began CPR and repeatedly urged Wilson to call 911, investigators said. When Wilson allegedly refused, the friend called 911 while continuing CPR.
According to the ACSO, Wilson made statements at the scene indicating she was responsible for harming the child.
Wilson was taken into custody and interviewed by detectives. Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, she was charged with aggravated child abuse and child abuse related to an additional, previously unreported incident of physical violence that investigators said occurred two days earlier.
Wilson was transported to the Alachua County Jail, where she was booked on both charges.
“What happened to this child shakes every one of us to our core. No child should ever endure this kind of suffering,” said Alachua County Sheriff Chad Scott in the release. “As this young child fights for their life, under the care of dedicated medical professionals, our prayers are with them. I am incredibly proud of the deputies, paramedics and detectives who acted with urgency, compassion and determination in the face of such a heartbreaking situation. We will continue to stand for this child and pursue justice with everything we have.”
The investigation remains ongoing.