An 8-month-old baby is on life support and Cherale Jones (pictured), his mother, stands accused of trying to suffocate him with a blanket and sofa cushions.
SEE ALSO: Teacher Febrezes “Stinky” Student
When Jones reportedly brought her unconscious child to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., on January 28, doctors became suspicious about the child’s condition and summoned police.
Upon being questioned by homicide investigators, the 21-year-old Mom admitted that she had held her son’s face down on a blanket surrounded by sofa cushions for 5 to 10 minutes until he lost consciousness. Jones told police that she was stressed over “things” with her mother and that the baby kept crying. Jones’ husband, Kareem, 23, (pictured) who was also in the room at the time, reportedly witnessed what took place and later told police that he should have taken his son to the hospital.
Using CPR, the couple revived the baby themselves but noticed the next morning that something was wrong with the boy. Taking the baby to the hospital the next day meant that it was12 to 15 hours before the baby received medical attention.
Doctors resorted to cardiopulmonary resuscitation in an effort to revive the child, but since there had been a lack of oxygen to the brain, the child suffered brain-stem damage as a result.
Currently, the baby is on a respirator and is not expected to survive without it.
Jones is charged with child abuse and child neglect causing great bodily harm. Kareem, who is listed as a Navy employee, is charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm. She was being held Wednesday without bail. Kareem was also being held Wednesday in lieu of $50,000 bail.
