BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (TCN) — A 22-year-old mother has been charged with manslaughter and aggravated child abuse in connection with the death of her 17-month-old son, whose medical condition necessitated a surgically implanted feeding tube, according to authorities.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Kaitlynn Dominick on May 26. On May 4, she had brought her 17-month-old son to the hospital. He died the following day. After determining that the infant’s lab results were unusual, medical staff contacted the authorities and an investigation began.
Authorities learned that the child, whose name has not been released, had a medical condition that required him to be fed through a surgically placed gastric tube. They conducted interviews with Dominick, family members, medical staff, and others who knew relevant information, according to the sheriff’s office. Dominick allegedly admitted she had mixed a liquid solution and administered it to the child, which ultimately led to his death.
After conducting their interviews, investigators concluded Dominick knew the liquid solution would cause harm, WALA reports. According to Captain Justin Correa of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, “We ultimately came to the conclusion that there was a concoction, a liquid mixture that was introduced into the child’s pre-existing feeding tube that then led to this medical emergency that ultimately led to the child’s death.”
He said the mixture did not contain alcohol, bleach, or illicit substances and would have been safe for a healthy child or adult but for a child with a medical condition, it led to a medical emergency.
According to an official complaint filed in district court, the solution allegedly contained a mixture of a liquid and table salt, WKRG reports.
According to WALA, prosecutors allege Dominick inserted the solution into the feeding tube knowing it would make her son sick and give her a break from caregiving.
The investigation is ongoing. WALA reports Dominick is being held on $75,000 bond.
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