NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Norfolk babysitter who said she accidentally hit a five-month-old child in her care is now facing a felony charge.
27-year-old Veronica Turpin, of the 100 block of Royal Windsor Loop, was arrested by Norfolk police and charged with felony child abuse.
The incident happened on Oct. 17, before Turpin sent a Facebook message to the child’s mother, asking her to come pick up the child.
The 5-month-old was taken to the emergency room of the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters with significant bruising, but the child’s mother said the baby didn’t suffer broken bones or brain injuries.
PREVIOUS: Parents say babysitter to blame for 5-month-old’s injuries
SEPARATE CASE: Babysitter charged with murder of 18-month-old in Norfolk
The mother said Turpin told her she was trying to spank her own son when she accidentally punched the five-month-old. However, in a later Facebook post Turpin said she meant to punch the couch, but hit the baby instead.
It read in part: “I felt I needed to get my anger out some way and not take it out on any of the kids so I tried punching the couch and didn’t realize how close I had got to her and before I knew it I had got her instead.”
She’s in jail with bond denied.