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Woman arrested for critically injuring infant

The 5-week-old boy is on life support in a Tampa hospital after suffering skull fractures and bruised genitals.

By JAMAL THALJI
Published June 9, 2005

A 5-week-old boy lies in critical condition in a Tampa hospital, and his 26-year-old mother is in the Pasco County jail accused of severely injuring him. Sherry Beth Bossick, of 27241 Dayflower Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, was charged Wednesday with first-degree aggravated child abuse and is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.

According to the Pasco Sheriff's Office, the baby was hospitalized at 6 a.m. Saturday and doctors determined he was the victim of shaken baby syndrome. He suffered several injuries, including skull fractures and bruised genitals.

Under initial questioning from deputies Sunday, Bossick said she spent the day with the infant, according to a sheriff's report, but denied anything happened and was unable to explain his injuries. In further questioning Wednesday she said the baby hit his head on a kitchen counter, the report said. When asked about the genital bruising, the report said, Bossick said that might have happened accidentally while she changed his diaper. The report did not say whether Bossick and the baby were related.

The baby, who was not identified, is on life support at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital. The baby is unlikely to survive without extensive brain damage, the report said.

[Last modified June 9, 2005, 16:08:18]