LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland woman has been arrested after a 3-month-old boy died from multiple head injuries that a medical examiner determined were consistent with being struck by a large ring she was wearing, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Jessica Vlasac, 42, was arrested Sept. 10 and charged with aggravated child abuse resulting in death, a first-degree felony.
Deputies were called to Vlasac’s home at about 11:58 p.m. Sept. 6 after receiving a report that the infant was unresponsive.
The baby was taken to Orlando Health in Lakeland, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Deputies noted an abrasion and bruising on his head.
According to the arrest affidavit, Vlasac initially told investigators she had accidentally fallen asleep in bed with the baby and could not remember what happened afterward. She said she awoke to find him face down on the bed, motionless and cold to the touch.
Investigators said Vlasac made statements including, “I think I killed our son,” and indicated she believed something had happened while she was asleep.
An autopsy raised questions about that account.
Medical Examiner Dr. Stephen Nelson found subdural hemorrhaging around the baby’s skull and identified three separate impact injuries on the top of his forehead, according to the Sheriff’s Office. One injury was described as L-shaped and measured approximately 1.7 centimeters by 1 centimeter.
Nelson told investigators that injury appeared consistent with an impact from a square-shaped object.
When detectives interviewed Vlasac again, they noticed a large, diamond-like stone ring on her finger. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the ring and Vlasac’s electronic devices.
During the search, the Sheriff’s Office said Vlasac spontaneously asked investigators whether the ring was what had killed the baby.
Nelson later examined the ring and determined the infant’s injuries were consistent with being struck by it as part of the impacts to his head, according to the affidavit. The medical examiner also found no evidence that co-sleeping caused the baby’s death.
Other people who were inside the home told investigators they had not noticed anything suspicious that night. They believed Vlasac and the baby were sleeping in her room and said they did not know anything was wrong until they heard her screaming.
Detectives also interviewed the baby’s father, who told them Vlasac could become violent after consuming alcohol.
According to the affidavit, messages provided by the father showed Vlasac had purchased alcoholic shots around noon on the day the baby died. Later that night, she sent several messages saying she had killed the infant and that he was dead. Investigators said some messages had been deleted.
The father also told detectives that Vlasac called him several days later and asked him not to show their messages to investigators.
Vlasac was taken into custody and booked into the Polk County Jail. The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing.