TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — A 29-year-old mother is behind bars after police say she left her infant son home alone for eight hours while she went to work — and came back to find him dead.
Ja’Keisa Knox called police Tuesday afternoon after discovering her 9-month-old boy unresponsive inside her home. Officers quickly learned she had left for work that morning and returned hours later to find him gone.
She Left at 8 A.M. and Did Not Return Until 4 P.M.
Knox told deputies with the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office that she left her apartment at 8 a.m.
That means the baby was allegedly alone in the home for eight hours straight.
Police say Knox confirmed she was the baby’s sole guardian. No one else was expected to come check on him or care for him while she was away.
Baby Had Injuries, Was Malnourished and Underweight
The infant was rushed to DCH Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Medical staff immediately flagged what they found. The baby had several visible injuries on his body. He was also malnourished and underweight — signs that raised serious concerns about the conditions he had been living in.
The hospital notified police, and the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Unit joined the investigation.
Mother Charged, More Charges Possible
Knox was arrested the same day and charged with child abuse.
Authorities say additional charges could follow once the results of the baby’s autopsy are complete.
She is currently being held at the Tuscaloosa County Jail without bond. No court date has been announced yet.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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