A Millbrook woman has been charged with aggravated child abuse after her infant was hospitalized, according to court documents.
Shelia McMullin, 27, was charged after admitting to shaking her six-week-old baby until he passed out on Oct. 17.
McMullin said the baby was being “fussy” while she was cleaning the house, so she became frustrated and shook him until he passed out. She then placed him into his swing unconscious.
The baby woke up after roughly 10 minutes and began to have a seizure, court documents say.
The baby was later taken to a hospital in Birmingham where doctors found that brain bleeding consistent with being shaken. Hospital personnel contacted authorities because they were concerned for the child’s safety.
The baby is expected to survive after he was intubated and medicated to stop the seizure activity. He has since been removed from the ventilator.
A medical professional involved in the investigation testified that while the baby is expected to survive, they anticipate he will experience residual effects based on the injuries. They said that 20-25% of babies with this injury die, and 80% of the survivors have some sort of long-term disability.
McMullin was released from the Elmore County Jail on bond but is facing an Aniah’s Law hearing on Wednesday.
