West virginia mother charged in death of 16-day-old daughter

West Virginia Mother Charged in Death of 16-Day-Old Daughter

Posted by
1 min read
June 26, 2024

A tragic incident has occurred in West Virginia, where a mother has been accused of fatally injuring her 16-day-old baby. Brooke Nicole Kessler, 32, has been charged with child abuse resulting in death after initially facing charges of causing serious bodily injury. This charge was upgraded following the infant’s death over the weekend.

The incident came to light after authorities were called to the Charleston Area Medical Center Women & Children’s Hospital on the evening of June 20. Hospital staff alerted the state police to suspicious injuries on the newborn, which included six broken ribs, a broken arm, and bruises on various parts of the body.

According to the criminal complaint, Kessler told investigators that she was burping her daughter earlier that day and, feeling irritated, may have squeezed the child too hard. She claimed the injuries, including the broken ribs, occurred when she picked up the baby by the chest to burp her. Kessler stated she did not intend to harm her daughter.

The case continues to develop as authorities and medical staff assess the full circumstances leading to the tragic outcome. Kessler was taken into custody and is being held in connection with the death of her daughter.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss