A mother has been arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse after police say she left her now-10-month-old child blind and with permanent brain damage.
Police said 27-year-old Jimmy Lee Pierre showed up at Jackson Memorial Hospital's emergency room last New Year's Eve and told doctors that her son, who was 3-months-old at the time had fallen from the bed.
A forensic examiner said the child's injuries -- multiple skull fractures, subdural hematomas, retinal hemorrhages and a rib fracture -- were inconsistent with a fall, according to the police report.
"It is disheartening to see that a mother caused severe head trauma to the child, so much that the child has permanent brain damage," said Miami Police spokeswoman Kenia Reyes.
Police said the mother appeared to be confused and under the influence of alcohol, so the child was transferred to child protection services.
Reyes said Pierre's other children have also been removed from her care.
While the incident occurred in December of last year, Pierre was not arrested until Wednesday. Police said she could not be located because she had checked into an alcohol rehabilitation facility without telling authorities.
Pierre is being held on $25,000 bond plus house arrest, jail records show. A Miami-Dade judge also ordered she have no contact with her children. It is unclear if Pierre has an attorney.
