COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A Fayette woman has been charged with second-degree murder after an 8-month-old girl she was babysitting died, police said.
Jennifer Johnson, 44, was also charged Monday with child abuse and child endangerment after the baby died at a Columbia hospital Sunday morning, The Columbia Missourian reported.
The child suffered several bruises on her head, face and abdomen and apparent cuts on her chin and nose, according to court documents.
Johnson was caring for the girl and her siblings. When the parents arrived home Sunday morning, they found the infant unresponsive and rushed her to the hospital.
Johnson told police she last saw the baby alive about 2:15 a.m. Sunday while giving her a bottle, according to the documents.
Johnson was being held in the Boone County Jail with no bond. Online court records don’t name an attorney for her.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.