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Child's skull fractured; caregiver jailed

By THOMAS LAKE
Published October 1, 2006

The toddler's skull was fractured, and knuckle marks covered her skin. She had more than 40 bruises.

And a doctor concluded it couldn't have been an accident.

A Pasco sheriff's deputy interviewed the toddler's caregiver. At first, Jessica Astle said the 18-month-old girl walked off a porch and hit her head on a brick. Then she said the bruises were ant bites.

Finally, Astle started to cry.

She admitted hitting the toddler Monday, according to her arrest report, and she admitting dropping her.

Twice.

Astle, 20, was arrested Thursday and charged with aggravated child abuse. Further details on the case, including Astle's relationship to the toddler, are unavailable because of privacy laws related to child abuse.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office won't disclose where the offense took place except to say it was in an area of Pasco with a Brooksville mailing address.

Astle's last confirmed address is in Hernando, a town in Citrus County.

Spokesman Doug Tobin said the toddler was transported from Spring Hill Regional Hospital to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg for examination by a pediatric neurologist. Her condition was not available Friday.

The toddler will probably be placed with relatives or a foster family, Tobin said.

Astle was held without bail at the Land O'Lakes jail on Friday. She declined a Times request for an interview.

According to her arrest report, Astle fled California to escape a separate child-abuse investigation.

The report also says she is five months' pregnant.

[Last modified September 30, 2006, 21:30:22]