Brittany Ingrassi: California Babysitter Charged With Killing 5-Month-Old Baby
A California woman is behind bars today for the death of a 5-month-old baby boy who passed away on Saturday. Brittany Ingrassi is accused of assault and child abuse that allegedly occurred while she was babysitting the baby last Tuesday at his mother’s Lancaster, California, home.
People reports that Ingrassi, 30, a Lancaster resident, allegedly battered infant Aiden Lopez so badly that the baby passed away from trauma sustained after the assault. Authorities stated that the infant had visible bruises to his torso and trauma to his head when he was found.
According to a statement provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, paramedics were called to a home on the 43400 block of Gadsden Avenue in Lancaster, the home of the baby’s mother, at around 5:22 p.m. on Tuesday of last week. They found Aiden, unconscious and barely breathing, inside the home. The baby was rushed to the hospital, but doctors were unable to revive him. He passed away just four days later. A statement from the Sheriff’s Information Bureau read as follows.
“Paramedics arrived and the victim was transported to a local hospital where he was being treated for serious head trauma and bruising to the upper torso.”
The Special Victims Bureau launched an investigation into the incident and on the same day after interviewing her, Ingrassi was arrested. She was said to be a long-time, close friend of the baby’s father and was asked to watch Aiden for the day when the incident occurred.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by Aiden’s grandmother, the family is greatly mourning the loss of the baby, who’s described as having a “smile that would light up a room.”
“Aiden Matthew Lopez is my grandson. While he is no longer with us in body, he will always remain in our hearts. He was a beautiful boy with a smile that would light up a room. He brought so much joy to so many people and it was tragic that his life cut short by this horrific act.”
The grandmother is also asking for assistance for Aiden’s parents, whom she says will be overburdened with funeral and medical expenses.
“Please know that any money received will be used to cover funeral and medical expenses for Aiden. Should there be any excess funds, donations will be made in Aiden’s name to charitable organizations that help children who are in need…..We have set up this GoFundMe because so many of our family and friends have said that they wish to contribute to help Aiden’s parents. We did not want to put a dollar figure on this campaign but since it was required, we put $1.”
According to sheriff’s spokesman, Deputy Ryan Rouzan, Ingrassi is being held on a $1 million bond at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood. She was initially taken taken into custody on suspicions of cruelty to a child likely to produce great bodily injury or death.
She now faces an additional felony charge of child abuse. Authorities expect that more charges will follow as details of the incident unfold. Her next hearing is scheduled for April 15. So far, it’s unclear if she entered a plea.
The investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Anyone with information about the events that led to the infant’s death and/or about Brittany Ingrassi should call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at 323-890-5500. If you would rather remain anonymous, contact “Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
[Photo by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department]
