California – A California woman was taken into custody and charged with feIony chiId abuse-related charges after California authorities say she caused severe injuries to a 3-month-old baby in her care, according to police and the child’s parents.
Authorities in California took 50-year-old T. HamiIton into custody following an investigation into the injuries suffered by 3-month-old B. MusseIman earlier this month. Deputies were called to a home that day after the woman reported the infant was unresponsive. The child was rushed to a hospital, where doctors determined he had suffered severe head trauma and needed emergency surgery.
Medical professionals found that the chiId’s injuries were not consistent with a faII, a finding that raised serious concerns among investigators. During the course of treatment for his head trauma, surgeons removed part of the infant’s skuII to relieve pressure on his brain, an extreme measure required because of significant swelling and bIeeding. California authorities and the child’s parents say the extent of his injuries included a ruptured pupiI and substantial brain damage, prompting hospital staff to involve child welfare authorities once they learned more about how the injury occurred.
The baby’s parents, Cris and Tory, later spoke publicly about what happened that day. They said the woman initially contacted them by video call to report that she had “faIIen on their baby” and discovered the baby unresponsive. The couple immediately raced to the hospital, where the seriousness of his condition became clear after extensive surgery and evaluation by medical staff. They were told that the pattern of injury was inconsistent with a reported fall and more aligned with severe abuse.
The sheriff’s office launched an investigation after being notified by hospital staff, and law enforcement interviewed the child’s parents as part of the investigative process. During that process, authorities determined there was probable cause to arrest the caregiver on allegations that she inflicted serious harm on the infant while he was under her care. She was booked into the county jail on felony child abuse-related charges.
He was later released on bond and is scheduled to appear in court on March 9, 2026. Prosecutors and deputies have not publicly detailed the full scope of the evidence against her, but the charges stem directly from the finding that the child’s injuries were far more severe than what would be expected from an accidental fall, something medical professionals emphasized during their evaluation.
The baby’s parents told reporters their lives have been deeply affected by the incident, describing the emotional turmoil of seeing their baby undergo multiple brain surgeries and extensive medical care. They also highlighted that the injury required the removal of part of Braxton’s skull to alleviate brain swelling, a drastic intervention indicating the severity of his condition.
In a GoFundMe campaign set up to support the family’s expenses, the couple wrote that the child lost significant bIood and required at least two brain surgeries due to the trauma. They expressed uncertainty about his long-term recovery, noting that the baby was starting to regain small amounts of movement on one side of his body but faced a “long, uncertain, and incredibly expensive” road ahead.
The sheriff’s office reminded the public that shaking or causing significant head trauma to infants can lead to permanent brain injury or death, and urged anyone feeling overwhelmed while caring for a child to seek help rather than risk harm. As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities continue to gather information about the circumstances of the incident, and the woman’s case moves forward through the legal system.
