JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The babysitter who was charged with aggravated assault on a five month old has now been charged with murder after the baby died.
Barbara Kendrick, 65, confessed to forcibly throwing the infant into a playpen Tuesday afternoon, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said. She was charged with aggravated child abuse on Tuesday and after the baby died Wednesday, police charged her with murder on Thursday.
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The baby, Cooper Dubovik, suffered a fractured skull and was taken to UF Health in life-threatening condition and then transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Wolfson Children's Hospital, Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jay Farhat said at a news conference Tuesday evening.
A gofundme account has been setup to help pay for funeral expenses and living expenses.
Kendrick, 65, was taken in to be interviewed by homicide detectives. During the interview, Farhat said, she confessed to throwing the baby, with force, into its play-and-pack, because he had been fussy due to teething and fever.
"It appears she got a little frustrated at some point, and possibly lost her temper," Farhat said.
Kendrick went to a neighbor for help before calling 911, investigators said.
Farhat said the 5-month-old's parents, who were working at the time, had been taking the child to the babysitter's Northside home for a little over a month.
"There is no blood relation, but we believe they are somehow related through marriage. One of her relatives is married to one of the father's relatives," Farhat said.