An infant just eight weeks old was hurried to the hospital with a brain hemorrhage after her mother allegedly expressed intentions to harm her in messages on Facebook. Shannon McNease, a 27-year-old woman from Wisconsin, has been charged with attempted murder following concerning injuries sustained by the baby, who was initially taken to Virginia Mason Franciscan Emergency Room in Bremerton due to symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. Medical examinations conducted by physicians revealed severe injuries, leading to the child being transferred to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, where medical staff suspected possible abuse.
According to a statement from the Bremerton Police Department, the infant was found to have a brain hemorrhage and multiple fractures at various stages of healing, indicating intentional harm. Police disclosed that the baby had 20 rib fractures, six metaphyseal fractures, and a brain injury consistent with abusive shaking.
Court documents revealed additional injuries on the child’s legs, with medical experts affirming that multiple rib fractures are highly indicative of child abuse due to the flexibility and resilience of children’s ribs. A doctor who examined the infant explained that such fractures typically result from forceful shaking or excessive stretching of body parts, emphasizing that these injuries do not occur through routine infant care.
Reports also indicated that McNease had shared online with a friend her intention to harm the baby. Following investigations by the Bremerton Police General Investigations Unit, it was established that the injuries likely occurred while the infant was under McNease’s care. Consequently, McNease was charged with Attempted Murder in the First Degree and Assault of a Child in the First Degree, leading to her arrest on September 4, 2025, in the Shelton area. She is currently held in custody at Kitsap County Jail on a $1 million bond, while it remains unclear if the baby’s father will face any charges.
The infant, fortunately, survived the traumatic ordeal and is now under the care of family members. The case has been forwarded to the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for legal proceedings.