A woman remained in jail Wednesday after she said there were snakes and lizards on her 3-month-old baby and then stood on a sea wall holding the boy, authorities said.
On Tuesday, the manager of a Clearwater building called authorities after she found 39-year-old Lydia M. Chako in a flooded apartment. Chako was inside, throwing items around and saying she thought there were lizards and snakes on the baby, Clearwater authorities said.
She also said she was keeping the demons out, authoriites said.
She left the apartment carrying the baby by his feet and wearing only a T-shirt, authorities said. She was then found standing on the sea wall of Clearwater Harbour with the baby, authorities said.
Officers say they distracted her and grabbed the child. She also made statements that made them believe she was going to throw the baby into the water, they said.
Authorities said she has a history of mental illness.
No one was injured. She was taken to jail and faces child abuse charges.
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Online records show she is being held on $5,000 bond.
The baby was turned over to the Department of Children and Families.
It wasn't immediately known if she had an attorney.
