LAKELAND, FL — Jessica Vlasac, 42, of Lakeland, was arrested Thursday and charged with aggravated child abuse resulting in the death of a 3-month-old infant who was in her care after an autopsy revealed subdural hemorrhaging around the baby’s skull and three separate impact injuries to the head, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office..
Jessica Vlasac was taken into custody on Sept. 10 and charged with first-degree felony aggravated child abuse following an investigation into the infant’s death.
According to the arrest affidavit, deputies responded to Vlasac’s Lakeland home at approximately 11:58 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6, after receiving a report of an unresponsive baby boy. The infant was transported to Orlando Health Medical in Lakeland, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Investigators noted an abrasion and bruising on the child’s head.
Vlasac initially told deputies she had accidentally fallen asleep with the infant in bed and did not remember what happened afterward. She said she awoke to find the baby lying face down, not moving and cold to the touch. According to the affidavit, Vlasac made statements including, “I think I killed our son,” and said she believed something happened while she was asleep.
An autopsy later revealed subdural hemorrhaging around the infant’s skull. Medical Examiner Dr. Stephen Nelson identified three separate impact injuries on the top of the baby’s forehead, along with an L-shaped injury measuring approximately 1.7 centimeters by 1 centimeter. Nelson indicated the injury appeared consistent with being caused by a square-like object.
During a subsequent interview, detectives observed Vlasac wearing a ring containing a large, diamond-like stone with a square-like shape. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the ring and Vlasac’s electronic devices. According to the affidavit, while the search was being conducted, Vlasac spontaneously asked investigators whether the ring was what killed the infant.
Other household members told detectives they did not notice anything suspicious before the incident and believed Vlasac and the baby were sleeping in her room. They reportedly became aware something was wrong after hearing Vlasac screaming.
The infant’s father told investigators that Vlasac could become violent when consuming alcohol. He also provided detectives with messages exchanged between himself and Vlasac on the day of the incident. Investigators said the messages showed Vlasac had purchased alcoholic shots around noon and later sent several messages stating that she had killed the infant and that he was dead. Detectives also reported that some messages had been deleted.
The father further told investigators that Vlasac called him several days after the infant’s death and appeared unusually normal while discussing what happened. He also alleged that Vlasac asked him not to show their messages to detectives.
During a follow-up examination, Nelson inspected the ring seized by detectives and determined that the infant’s injuries were consistent with being struck by the ring as part of the impact injuries, according to PCSO. Investigators said the medical examination found no evidence that co-sleeping caused the infant’s death.
Vlasac was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing.
SOURCE: POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
