An Iowa woman was arrested last month after a months-long investigation determined that she had purposefully injured her infant son.
Court documents say Emma Ann Swanson, 22, failed to provide adequate food and health care for the child, who was diagnosed with failure to thrive at the age of 2 months, according to The Messenger. At that time, he was significantly underweight, which Swanson acknowledged that she knew but did not to correct the situation.
In July, an affidavit said, the boy experienced a seizure. Rather than seeking medical attention, Swanson simply recorded the incident on her cell phone. He experienced more seizures in October.
In September, court documents say, Swanson “used unreasable force” on the baby, causing bruising and swelling to his genitals. Again, she did not seek medical attention, which caused the condition to worsen.
In early October, she “intentionally used unreasonable force, including shaking or striking,” and caused serious injuries, including a skull fracture, subdural hematomas, and hemorrhages. The injuries caused severe damage to one eye and caused a stroke.
Swanson left the baby with her boyfriend in early October, and he urged her to take the child to a hospital, which she delayed for two more days before taking him to an emergency room, where she told staff that the boy had fallen from a swing onto a carpeted floor. The child’s condition was so severe that he was transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where doctors determined that the boy’s injuries were caused by non-accidental trauma and not from the six-inch fall that she claimed.
When questioned by police, Swanson “appeared unfazed, blamed medical staff for malpractice and posted on social media, suggesting a lack of accountability.”
Medical officials said that Swanson’s behavior indicated a specific intent to cause harm.
Court documents did not provide an update on the child’s condition or say where he was now. The documents also did not indicate why no charges were filed for months.
Swanson has been charged with child endangerment and willful injury causing serious injury, KCCI reported. Her arraignment is set for June 16.
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[Featured image: Emma Ann Swanson/Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office]