Charlotte, NORTH CAROLINA – The 21-year-old North Carolina mother, Nikkita, was taken into custody and later charged with multiple charges, including intentional child abuse resulting in serious physical injury after the last week’s incident left her 1-month-old child seriously injured. Authorities say the baby suffered bruises around the face and eyes after her parent reportedly pnched her in the face before leaving her all alone while she went to work.
According to the police officials, the investigation process began at the end of last month after witnesses called 911 and told the dispatcher that they found child alone in the car. The baby was reportedly found unrestrained in the back seat of the mother’s vehicle, which was turned off as the parent went to work and left her child all alone on the parking lot. According to the responding officers, the inside of the vehicle was very cold after the child was left unattended amid approaching freezing temperatures.
Police say the temperature when the baby was found was around 40 degrees. It remains unclear how long the child was left alone in the vehicle before the woman left and went to work at the local fast food restaurant. The child was rushed to the hospital for treatment and authorities declined to release the child’s condition following the mother’s arrest. Police officials released a statement, saying the baby suffered bruises on her face and around the eyes after the parent reportedly punched her.
The mother is accused of striking her daughter in the face a day before allegedly leaving her in the car. The baby suffered bruises around both eyes, swelling, and a scratch on her face. While it’s unclear how long the 6-week-old was in the vehicle, experts suggest that on a 40-degree day, hypothermia could develop within hours – even more quickly for a baby. The young mom was formally charged this week and is being held on $35,000 bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled in two weeks, court records say.