LAFAYETTE — A Lafayette mother confessed to child abuse March 7, two days after her 3-month-old infant was hospitalized with burns, according to charges filed Tuesday.

Danielle Nichole Hunt, 18, faces three counts of battery resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of child neglect.

Hunt’s child was taken March 5 to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where physicians found blistering burns to the infant’s face and upper torso, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Medical reports cited in the affidavit suggest the child also had numerous healing fractures to his or her vertebrae, leg bones, ribs and skull.

In a statement to investigators, which also is cited in the affidavit, Hunt said she became angry with her child and hurt the infant on several occasions.

On one occasion, Hunt told police the contents of a dirty diaper leaked onto her hand, so she “squeezed the child’s foot until she heard a popping sound.”

During another instance, Hunt told police that she threw the child into a chair due to his or her “incessant crying,” causing the infant to instantly stop crying and fall asleep.

The night before the child’s hospitalization, Hunt told police that his or her dirty diaper leaked onto the bed, so she held the child in the shower under hot running water until she noticed the infant’s skin show signs of burns.

She is being held at Tippecanoe County Jail on $5,000 cash and $50,000 surety bond.

Source: The Journal and Courier