West Virginia – In a shocking case in West Virginia, a 33-year-old mother, identified as B. Kessler, faces multiple severe charges following the tragic death of her 16-day-old daughter. Kessler was indicted by a grand jury for her role in the death of her newborn, revealing a somber story of frustration and fatal outcomes.
The charges against Kessler are grave and extensive. She has been indicted on counts of child abuse by a parent resulting in death, child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, child neglect resulting in death, strangulation, malicious assault, and domestic battery. These charges reflect the severity of the accusations and the tragic consequences of the actions attributed to her.
The case came to light on the evening of June 20, when authorities were alerted to a newborn with suspicious injuries at a local hospital. Medical staff at the hospital identified multiple injuries on the infant that were deemed suspicious and likely non-accidental. These included six broken ribs, a broken arm, and various marks on her throat, eye, and the back of her head. According to police reports and local news outlets, during an interview with state police detectives, Kessler gave a disturbing account of the events leading up to her daughter’s injuries. She described being “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 might have caused the fatal injuries.
Kessler’s explanations for the injuries included various scenarios where she handled the baby roughly out of frustration. She speculated that she might have broken the baby’s ribs by squeezing her too hard when picking her up to burp. “Ms. Kessler stated she did not intend to squeeze that hard. Ms. Kessler also stated that the ribs may have broken when she picked the baby up by the chest to burp her and she was irritated and squeezed the baby too hard, possibly breaking the ribs,” a criminal complaint reads. Regarding the broken arm, Kessler suggested that her husband might have been responsible, though she did not witness it.
Kessler’s husband provided additional context, emphasizing the challenges his wife faced with postpartum depression. He depicted a distressing picture where Kessler struggled with basic caregiving tasks such as changing diapers and would become quickly frustrated. He recounted instances where he had to intervene to prevent her from shaking the baby, taking the child away to cool off. Acknowledging his wife’s mental health struggles, he had even arranged for his mother to take care of the newborn for several days to alleviate the situation.
Following her arrest, Kessler was held without bond in jail, awaiting further legal action. Her indictment not only brings her actions to the forefront of legal scrutiny but also highlights the dire consequences of untreated postpartum mental health issues. This case has not only devastated a family but also underscores the critical need for awareness and support for mental health, especially postpartum depression. It serves as a tragic reminder of the potential consequences of inadequate care and support during such vulnerable times. The community and authorities hope that justice will be served, and such tragedies will be prevented in the future.
