A Port Richey mom is accused of choking a 7-month-old baby into unconsciousness while the baby was under observation at St. Joseph’s Hospital. 

Tampa police say the incident was caught on hospital video.

Violet Hinrichs, 19, has been charged with four counts of child abuse.  Hinrichs’ sister, Tiffany Coffey, spoke to Bay News 9, who said the accusations have shocked their family.

“I’m just disgusted, and it’s shocking,” said Coffey, "She was always good with the baby. I never would have expected that or seen that coming from her. I still can't believe it, I can't even wrap my mind around it."

Photos of the infant, Danny Hinrichs, are posted on Violet Hinrichs’ Facebook page. Danny is seen wearing medical devices. Back in April, Violet Hinrichs posted on the page about her son Danny’s struggle with seizures and sleep apnea.

Police paint a different picture of the mother.

According to Tampa Police Department, the baby was a patient at the hospital, where he was undergoing observation for seizures and sleep apnea.  As part of the observation, the child was being monitored by video and audio.

Police were contacted after the hospital staff noticed bruising on the child's neck.

During the investigation, police viewed the video, which is when they saw Hinrichs squeezing the boy until his heart rate and brain waves dropped to dangerous levels, police said.

Police said the baby can be seen struggling, flailing his arms and turning blue before ultimately becoming unresponsive. They said they saw this happen 4 separate times.  Investigators said Hinrichs admitted to squeezing her son.

The baby did not suffer any seizures when Hinrichs wasn't present and hasn't suffered any seizures since being separated from her, police said.

Family members said they don’t  know what would have led Hinrichs to do what she’s accused of.  Coffey said her sister does struggle with learning disabilities, and has the mental capacity of an eight year old.

"She's always lived with my mom since Danny's been born," said Coffey.

Coffey said her sister has another child, who was adopted out immediately after birth several years ago, because Hinrichs was so young.

Danny is currently being sheltered by the Department of Children and Families officials, and is still in the hospital.

Hinrichs was booked in the Hillsborough County Jail on four counts of aggravated child abuse. She remains there on $80,000 bail.

Additional charges could be forthcoming, police said.