A Florida nurse allegedly told police, “I think I killed our son,” after her three-month-old baby was found unresponsive with severe injuries to his head, according to investigators.
Jessica Vlasac, 42, called 911 shortly before midnight on September 6 to report that her infant son, August Lionel, was unresponsive at their home in Lakeland, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.
Paramedics rushed the baby to Orlando Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Vlasac initially told deputies that she had accidentally fallen asleep with August in her bed. When she woke up, she said, the baby was lying face down, was not moving and felt cold to the touch.
But investigators said the infant had visible bruising and an abrasion on his head, raising questions about what had happened before his death.
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Jessica Vlasac, 42, was arrested last Thursday and charged with felony aggravated child abuse resulting in the death of her three-month-old son. She has not yet entered a plea
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An autopsy report showed that baby August Lionel suffered subdural hemorrhaging around his skull
Autopsy Revealed Severe Head Injuries
An autopsy found that August had suffered subdural hemorrhaging around his skull.
The medical examination also identified three separate injuries to the baby’s head. One of them appeared to have been caused by a small, square-shaped object, according to the coroner’s findings cited by police.
The autopsy found no evidence that co-sleeping had caused the infant’s death.
During their investigation, detectives noticed that Vlasac was wearing a ring with a large diamond-like stone on her finger.
Police said the shape of the stone was consistent with the injury described in the autopsy.
Investigators obtained a search warrant and seized the ring, along with electronic devices belonging to Vlasac.
While deputies were conducting the search, Vlasac allegedly asked whether the ring was responsible for her son’s death.
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Vlasac, wearing what appears to be bright purple scrubs, was taken into custody on Thursday and booked into the Polk County Jail
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According to jail records, she is not yet eligible for bond. Vlasac is due in court on Thursday for a pre-trial detention hearing
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The infant’s father told detectives that Vlasac ‘becomes violent’ when she drinks and alleged that she admitted to buying alcohol earlier that day, police said
Father Allegedly Said She Became Violent When Drinking
August’s father also provided investigators with information about Vlasac’s behavior.
He told detectives that she “becomes violent” when she drinks and alleged that she had told him she bought alcohol earlier on the day August died.
The father also showed investigators messages Vlasac allegedly sent that night.
According to police, some of the messages stated that she had killed the baby and that he was dead.
Investigators also said they discovered that Vlasac had deleted some messages from her phone and had urged August’s father not to show their conversations to detectives.
People who were inside the home at the time told investigators they had not noticed anything suspicious until they heard Vlasac screaming.
They said Vlasac had been alone in her room caring for August when the incident occurred.
Nurse Arrested and Charged
Vlasac was arrested last Thursday and booked into the Polk County Jail. She was charged with felony aggravated child abuse resulting in the death of her three-month-old son.
She has not yet entered a plea.
Jail records indicate that Vlasac is not currently eligible for bond. She is due to appear in court Thursday for a pre-trial detention hearing, while her arraignment is scheduled for October 13.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing.
The allegations against Vlasac have not been proven in court, and she remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until she is convicted.