Collier County law‑enforcement officials took decisive action on Thursday when they booked 25‑year‑old Jasmine Gema Martinez into the county jail on a felony charge of child neglect without great bodily harm. The charge follows a harrowing series of medical findings that revealed a cracked skull, bruising, claw‑like marks around the infant’s neck and blood pooling in the left eye.
Medical evidence points to severe abuse
Doctors who examined the baby on Monday described the injuries as unmistakable signs of non‑accidental trauma. In addition to the skull fracture, the infant suffered broken bones in both legs, deep abdominal bruising and a previously treated fractured collarbone that had originally been linked to complications during birth.
Detectives first became aware of the troubling pattern on Oct. 19, when the infant arrived at an emergency room with the leg fractures and abdominal bruises. Six days earlier, the child had been treated for the collarbone fracture. The latest hospital visit, a routine follow‑up appointment, revealed fresh injuries that prompted the medical staff to alert authorities.
Caregiver’s refusal to seek emergency care
When hospital personnel recommended immediate ambulance transport, Martinez refused, stating she needed to consult a family member before authorizing the transfer. Investigators and the Florida Department of Children and Families intervened, removing Martinez’s custody of the infant and a second child in the home. Emergency responders then rushed the baby to a hospital, where he remains under intensive medical care.
Authorities hold the caregiver accountable
Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk emphasized the seriousness of the case, saying, “When a child suffers serious injuries, getting them immediate medical care is not optional. We will continue to hold accountable anyone who puts a child’s safety and well‑being at risk.”
Martinez now remains in the Collier County jail awaiting formal proceedings. The case underscores the vigilance of local law‑enforcement and child‑protective agencies in safeguarding vulnerable children and ensuring that caregivers who neglect their duties face the full force of the law.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
