A Lakeland woman is under arrest and has been charged in the death of an 8-month-old baby she was babysitting.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 20-year-old Adrianna Bradley Thursday charging her with aggravated child abuse and manslaughter in the death of 8-month-old Jaxon Betts.
Investigators said on Wednesday afternoon, deputies were called to Bradley's home to assist Polk County Emergency Medical Services who were performing life-saving efforts on the baby.
The baby was transported to Lakeland Regional Heath Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Detectives said Bradley told them Jaxon was playing on the tile floor of her home with her own 10-month-old baby when Jaxon attempted to stand and fell backward and struck his head on the floor. She said she later placed him in a playpen and began to prepare food and a bottle for Jaxson. Bradley said when she returned from the kitchen, Jaxson was in the same position as when he was laid down, but he was not breathing. She then called 911.
Deputies said when the baby was examined at the hospital, doctors found two small, parallel marks, approximately two inches apart and each approximately one inch in length, on the back left portion of his head.
An autopsy was conducted and the Medical Examiner determined the baby died from head trauma consistent with the being shaken or thrown and that the injury would not have occurred as a result of the child falling.