A North Carolina woman has been indicted after allegedly throwing an 8-month-old baby onto a changing table with enough force to cause a catastrophic brain injury.
Brooke Ashley Reiner, 26, was arrested earlier this month after police searched her home in Smithfield as part of an investigation into the critically injured infant, according to the Smithfield Police Department.
Investigators allege Reiner was caring for the baby on July 6 when she intentionally slammed the child onto a changing table.
The impact allegedly caused a brain bleed with a midline shift and hemispheric disconnection, according to an indictment. The severe injury can disrupt communication between different areas of the brain.
Reiner is also accused of repeatedly striking the infant in the head and abdomen.
The baby was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries. Authorities have not released an update on the child’s condition.
Police said Reiner was providing child care without the license required to operate a child care facility.
She has been charged with two counts of intentional child abuse causing serious injury and one count of providing child care without a license resulting in serious injury, according to online court records.
Reiner had not entered a plea as of the latest court filings. An attorney listed as representing her was contacted for comment.
