In a shocking case in West Virginia, a 33-year-old mother, identified as B. Kessler, is facing multiple serious charges following the tragic death of her 16-day-old daughter. A grand jury indicted Kessler for her role in her newborn’s death, revealing a somber story of frustration and tragic consequences.
The charges against Kessler are serious and extensive. She has been charged with child abuse by a parent, child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, child neglect resulting in death, strangulation, malicious assault, and domestic battery. These charges reflect the gravity of the allegations and the tragic consequences of the actions attributed to her.
The case was brought to light on the evening of June 20, when authorities were notified of a newborn with suspicious injuries at a local hospital. Medical personnel at the hospital discovered multiple injuries on the infant that were deemed suspicious and most likely non-accidental.
There were six broken ribs, a broken arm, and various marks on her throat, eye, and back of her head. According to police reports and local news outlets, during an interview with state police detectives, Kessler provided a disturbing account of the events that led to her daughter’s injuries.
She described feeling “irritated” with both herself and the baby, admitting that she probably squeezed too hard while burping the infant. This excessive force, she claimed, was unintentional but could have resulted in fatal injuries.
Kessler explained the injuries by describing several scenarios in which she roughed up the baby out of frustration. She suspected that she had broken the baby’s ribs by squeezing her too hard while picking her up to burp. “Ms. Kessler stated that she did not intend to squeeze so hard.
Ms. Kessler also stated that the ribs may have broken when she picked up the baby by the chest to burp her, became irritated, and squeezed the baby too hard, potentially breaking the ribs,” according to the criminal complaint.
Kessler speculated that her husband could be to blame for the broken arm, despite the fact that she was not present.
Kessler’s husband provided additional context, emphasizing his wife’s struggles with postpartum depression. He painted a disturbing picture in which Kessler struggled with basic caregiving tasks like changing diapers and became quickly frustrated.
He described how he had to intervene to keep her from shaking the baby, taking the child away to cool off. Recognizing his wife’s mental health issues, he even arranged for his mother to care for the newborn for a few days to help ease the situation.
Following her arrest, Kessler was held in jail without bond pending further legal action. Her indictment not only puts her actions under legal scrutiny, but it also highlights the serious consequences of untreated postpartum mental health issues.
This case has not only devastated a family, but it also highlights the critical importance of mental health awareness and support, particularly for postpartum depression. It serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of insufficient care and support during such vulnerable times.
The community and authorities hope that justice will be served and similar tragedies will be avoided in the future.
