Florida daycare worker charged after infant left with fractured skull, ribs and a brain bleed

A daycare worker in Florida has been charged with aggravated child abuse after she allegedly carried out a violent assault on a three-month-old infant in her care, reportedly triggered by personal issues and an upsetting text message.

Infant arrives at hospital with severe injuries

Police were called to HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital in Panama City on Wednesday, after medical staff reported that a three-month-old baby had arrived at the facility with a fractured skull, fractured leg, fractured ribs, and a brain bleed, according to a press release from the Bay County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) shared on Facebook. The hospital did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Suspect identified and initial denial

A preliminary investigation indicated that the infant had sustained his injuries earlier that day whilst at a daycare centre under the supervision of employee LaKayla E. Hamilton.

Hamilton initially "denied any knowledge of how the child was injured," according to police. However, during a subsequent interview, she admitted to assaulting the infant and repeatedly slamming him into a crib.

Hamilton's confession

"Hamilton confessed that after arriving at work already upset by personal issues and receiving an additional text message that intensified her anger, she directed that rage toward the infant," the BCSO release stated.

Police said Hamilton admitted to repeatedly slamming the child into both a crib and a changing table, as well as squeezing, shaking, and striking him in the head with toys "in attempts to stop him from crying." She also allegedly disclosed that a second incident took place later the same day, in which she abused the infant "again in the same manner."

"She was unable to provide an exact number of times she assaulted the child due to the level of rage she described experiencing," the BCSO said.

Infant's life saved by parents' swift action

Investigators noted that the child could have died from his "catastrophic injuries" were it not for "the swift action of the child's parents in seeking immediate medical treatment."

Charges and bail

Hamilton was booked into Bay County Jail on two counts of aggravated child abuse on Thursday. Her bond was set at $210,000, per public Bay County records. The investigation remains ongoing.