[She-boon mom named this one after her favorite food.]

Local mother accused of bodily harm to 3-month old baby

(Pensacola, FL) June 20 – Investigators say 22-year old Chiquita Williams of Pensacola took her 3-month old baby to Sacred Heart Hospital last Wednesday.

Authorities say Williams showed doctors some swelling around the child's knee. But upon further investigation, authorities say staff members found signs of child abuse – signs they say we all should get familiar with to intervene before it is too late. "Injury that they have and could they really self inflict those injuries," said Janice Thomas with the Florida Dept. of Children & Families.

Investigators say a hospital examination revealed the baby had several broken bones and bruises. Authorities say Williams resides at the Sunrise Apartments on West Fairfield Drive in Pensacola. One neighbor told us she rarely saw Williams and that the mother mostly kept to herself. Meantime Escambia County Sheriff's Deputies are keeping Williams behind bars on a $100,000 bond.

Janice Thomas says she sees about 300 cases of alleged child abuse each month. In Mobile County, the numbers add up like this according to the Department of Human Resources:

Thomas says not all child abuse cases result in arrests. She adds some families receive referrals for various services. In the case of this mother, her 3-month old baby has since been placed in the custody of the state of Florida.