Mother Accused Of Squeezing Infant Daughter Too Tight, Breaking Her Ribs
Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter
PENN HILLS (KDKA) -- Police say doctors became suspicious back in September, when Adrienne Hughes, 22, brought her 2-month-old daughter to Children's Hospital because she was having trouble breathing.
Doctors say the child had multiple broken ribs that were healing. Hughes told doctors her baby had not fallen or been in any accidents.
In October, another X-ray revealed the baby had additional broken ribs. Doctors said there was no way the baby could not have suffered the injuries without someone knowing.
No one answered when KDKA's Amy Wadas knocked on Hughes' door, on Bower Street in Lincoln-Lemington on Wednesday, where she lives with her boyfriend and the baby's grandmother.
All three were questioned by police.
During questioning, Hughes said she may have accidentally picked the baby up wrong and said she sometimes holds her incorrectly. She went on to say that her daughter sometimes screams so loud, she wouldn't even know if she accidentally hurt her.
She also said the baby has "a strong [expletive] kick and she will try to 'kick the hell out of you,'" so you really have to hold her.
Hughes sent police two videos she says prove the baby cried without reason, and could hold her head up on her own without help.
Hughes is facing five felonies including two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated assault on a victim younger than 6, and one count of endangering the welfare of children. She is currently at the Allegheny County Jail.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15 at 12:30 p.m.
