EAGLE LAKE, FL – On December 8, 2025, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 24-year-old Zachary Paul Ingram (DOB 12/05/2001) of Eagle Lake and charged him with one count of aggravated child abuse (F.S.S. 827.03(2)(B)), a first-degree felony.
The investigation began on November 26, 2025, after deputies responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive three-month-old boy at a residence in Eagle Lake. Ingram, who was the sole adult caregiver at the time, initially stated the infant had been sleeping in a baby swing and was found pale and unresponsive after Ingram returned from the bathroom approximately 10-15 minutes later.
The infant was transported to Winter Haven Hospital and later transferred to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa due to the severity of injuries. Medical examinations revealed:
- Subdural hemorrhage (brain bleed)
- Extensive bilateral retinal hemorrhages
- Spinal cord hemorrhage and edema with associated ligament injury
- Linear bruising on the buttocks
- Vertical bruising near the anus
- Partial linear bruising in the lower abdomen
- Onset of seizures requiring medication
Medical staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital, including Dr. Rexine of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Jennifer Santana of the Hillsborough County Child Protection Team, determined the injuries were consistent with abusive head trauma caused by violent shaking. The Child Protection Team’s medical evaluation report, approved by Medical Director Dr. Carol Lilly, stated the injuries were inconsistent with reported explanations of a two-year-old sibling striking the infant with a rattle or a single fall while in the mother’s arms. The report concluded the combination of intracranial and retinal hemorrhages, spinal injuries, bruising in multiple areas, apnea, seizures, and altered consciousness supported a diagnosis of abusive head trauma.
During subsequent interviews, Ingram admitted to shaking the infant both horizontally and vertically and stated he may have shaken the child harder than intended. Surveillance footage from two Polk County stores confirmed the infant’s mother was not home at the time of the incident, leaving Ingram as the only adult present.
The infant remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Medical professionals have indicated the injuries are likely to result in permanent brain disability.
Ingram was booked into the Polk County Jail on December 8, 2025, and is scheduled for first appearance on December 9, 2025.
Source: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
