POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 24-year-old man from Eagle Lake has been arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony, after investigators say he violently shook a 3-month-old baby, leaving the infant in critical condition.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Zachary Ingram (DOB 12/05/01) was the baby’s caregiver when the injuries occurred on November 26, 2025. Deputies were called to an Eagle Lake home after a 911 caller reported an unresponsive infant.
According to the sheriff’s office, Ingram told investigators he left the baby in a swing while he went to the bathroom for 10–15 minutes. When he returned, he said, the baby was pale and unresponsive. Ingram called the child’s mother, who instructed him to hang up and dial 911. He performed CPR until first responders arrived.
Medical findings indicate violent shaking
Doctors at Winter Haven Hospital and later at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa found the infant had a brain bleed, hemorrhaging, and bruising to multiple areas of the body. The baby remains in critical but stable condition.
Medical evaluations by pediatric specialists and the Hillsborough County Child Protection Team concluded that the injuries were “a clear indication of child abuse” and consistent with abusive head trauma caused by violent shaking.
An affidavit from the sheriff’s office detailed extensive injuries, including:
- Brain bleed and innumerable retinal hemorrhages
- Bleeding and swelling in the spinal cord
- Linear bruising on the buttocks and abdomen
- Additional bruising near the anus
- Seizures requiring medical intervention
Doctors determined that the baby’s injuries “will most likely cause permanent disability to his brain.”
Investigation findings
Ingram initially claimed a two-year-old in the home struck the baby with a rattle and that the baby’s mother had once fallen while holding him. However, after further questioning, he admitted to shaking the infant “both horizontally and vertically” and said he may have done so “harder than he thought.”
Detectives confirmed through surveillance footage that the mother was not home at the time of the incident, leaving Ingram as the only adult present.
Arrest and charges
Ingram was arrested on December 8, 2025, and charged with aggravated child abuse (F.S.S. 827.03(2)(B)). He was booked into the Polk County Jail and was scheduled for a first appearance hearing Monday afternoon.
“The abuse that this baby suffered at the hands of his caregiver is simply unfathomable,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “We pray that this baby is able to recover from his significant injuries, and that the suspect is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
