A Texas mother, Brittney Alisha Bailey, could face the death penalty after allegedly beating her three-month-old daughter to death and attempting to blame it on her 17-month-old son. Police say Bailey conducted Internet searches about shaken baby syndrome before accusing her toddler of causing her fatal injuries.
The tragic incident unfolded on March 10 when Austin police responded to an emergency call from The Revl Apartments on North Lamar Boulevard. The caller reported a young child was unresponsive. The Austin Fire Department and emergency medical services arrived and attempted to resuscitate the baby with CPR before transporting her to the hospital, he said. Law and crime.
Unfortunately, despite medical intervention, the baby succumbed to her injuries on March 15. Although authorities have not revealed the final cause of death, the baby’s twin sister also showed signs of physical abuse. “During the initial investigation, detectives discovered evidence that the decedent’s twin sister suffered non-accidental injuries,” police stated in their report.
Bailey, 31, has since been charged with injury to a child, a first-degree felony, related to injuries allegedly suffered by her surviving twin. In initial statements to police, Bailey claimed that her daughter had accidentally fallen off a changing table and hit her head while washing her hands, which allegedly caused the baby to vomit.
However, Bailey later changed her story, suggesting her 17-month-old son was responsible. According to the ABC affiliate KVUEBailey maintained this version until police presented him with evidence refuting his story, at which point he reportedly nodded in acknowledgment, asked to use the bathroom, and then attempted to leave the interview. Shortly after, she was arrested and later released on $250 bail related to her surviving son’s injury.
The boy’s autopsy, released in October, determined the death was a homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the head. The report noted that the injuries were “highly suggestive” of prior head trauma, implying a history of abuse. Additionally, new court records reveal that before her daughter’s death, Bailey allegedly searched online for phrases such as “How do I know if my baby has been hurt or shaken?”
Bailey is now detained in Travis County Jail on $600,000 bond, and his case has raised the possibility of capital punishment due to the seriousness of the charges. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 14, where more details of the investigation may be presented. The case continues to develop, with authorities gathering evidence to fully understand the events that led to the tragic loss of life and the suffering endured by the surviving twin.
