Arrest made in shaken baby syndrome case

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

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Saunders bonded out of jail Tuesday.

Licensed childcare provider Rebecca Saunders was arrested Monday after Hillsborough County Sheriff's investigators say she harmed a 5-month-old boy.

"Right now he has, it appears to be shaken baby syndrome," said sheriff's office public information officer Debbie Carter.

Investigators say the infant, who the sheriff's office is not identifying, appeared to be sleepy when his parents picked him up at Saunders' Carrollwood home on May 8.

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"They took the child home," said Carter. "He slept the whole way home. [They] put him to bed and when they went to check on him, again he was limp and unresponsive."

The 5-month-old was flown to Tampa General Hospital, where he is hospitalized with severe brain injuries.

Leon Jones, the attorney for Saunders, says the 35-year-old mother of three can't believe she was arrested.

"The best word I can come up with is stunned," said Jones. "When I visited with her last night at the county jail, she was just in shock. She just kept saying over and over, 'But I didn't do anything. I didn't do anything.' "

Jones says investigators arrested the wrong person.

"It's our position that law enforcement is focused on her," said Jones. "Maybe they were directed towards her, but it's not her."

Jones says the baby boy was exposed to other people, such as family members, and his office is doing its own investigation. He says people should withhold judgment for now.

"In this case don't make any flash judgments," said Jones. "This is a young lady who loves kids. Has three of her own."

Saunders is currently facing one count of aggravated child abuse, but if the baby doesn't survive, more charges could be brought. She was released from jail Tuesday on $5,000 bond.