Williamsburg, Va. - A Williamsburg mother is charged with abusing her one-month-old infant daughter.
Police in Williamsburg say they charged Vicky Mills, 30, with abuse after finding her daughter with a fractured arm.
According to a criminal complaint filed in court, she called 911 Wednesday because of her daughter's arm. When medics and officers arrived at her apartment on Merrimac Trail, police say they found other injuries.
Police say the infant had bruises on her left cheek, knee, and thigh as well as scratches on her right side of the face, nose and forehead.
According to a criminal complaint filed in court, an x-ray showed that the infant's arm was fractured above and below her elbow and she also had a bite mark on her leg.
The complaint says that police questioned Mills about the injuries Friday; in each case she explained them as accidents.
Mills said the baby's arm may have been fractured when she picked her up under the arms and heard a popping noise. When pressed, doctors say it was likely not an accident and was caused by being jerked or pulled, she conceded it was possible she fractured the baby's arm due to being heavy-handed while moving it before feeding her.
The criminal complaint said Mills told an officer the bruises were caused by a low blood platelet count, however, levels were found to be normal at the hospital. She said a bruise on the baby's face could have been from kissing her a bit too forcefully
Mills also told the officer she may have used too much force when biting the baby on the leg, which she would sometimes do.
Police arrested Mills Friday and placed her baby in foster care.
One of her neighbors was devastated to hear the news Monday. She said she didn't know Mills well, but would often see mother and daughter sitting outside on their balcony.
"Her demeanor and everything was just so pleasant and, you know, just a wonderful mom I thought, a great, first time, mom," said her neighbor Debora Stevenson.
Mills declined our request for an interview.
