A Florida mother was arrested on a litany of child abuse charges earlier this week after allegedly sending her ex-boyfriend videos of her choking and slapping their 5-week-old baby.
Florida mother accused of choking, slapping, and beating newborn baby
Joyce is accused of repeatedly hitting her own child and smothering the baby with a blanket for about 37 seconds in an effort to irritate and annoy her ex-boyfriend.
In the choking video, Joyce is seen grabbing her son by the neck and placing a blanket over his mouth as he cries and twitches struggling to breathe.
Authorities claim the angry mother can be seen in another video violently rocking her son’s car seat back and forth so that the child hits his head five times.
In another video, police allege Joyce can be seen “knocking [her son] off the bed” just after allegedly sending a text message threatening to give “this bitch” cat food.
Joyce is also accused of threatening to kill her daughter. At one point, she allegedly claimed that the child was already dead.
The Herald reports that the child’s father sent the videos and messages to the Florida Department of Children and Families, who attempted to search his home but found nothing.
Then, a social worker reported that Joyce’s baby and 1-year-old son were missing, prompting the Hialeah Police Department to get involved.
According to reports, special victims, homicide and special investigations units were on the case and eventually arrested Joyce in Liberty City, Florida.
The newborn is now recovering at an area hospital, while the child has been placed with a relative.
The teen mother was charged with child abuse, child neglect, domestic battery by strangulation and written threats of death or bodily injury.
