A community in Brazil is mourning the loss of a three-month-old infant, Anthony, who died in a heartbreaking incident allegedly involving his mother, Aline Nascimento Santos. Santos initially told authorities she had breastfed her son and put him down to sleep in his pram. However, an investigation later revealed that the baby had been suffocated.
advertisement
A mother has been arrested on suspicion of suffocating her three-month-old son, Anthony Gabriel Sousa Santos.
Image: Newsflash
The infant was found unconscious and taken to the hospital on April 8th, where he later passed away.
advertisement
The investigation uncovered several bruises and untreated nappy rash on the baby’s body, adding to the already heartbreaking nature of the incident.
After Anthony’s passing, medical personnel notified the Military Police, who subsequently launched an investigation into the incident.
advertisement
According to reports, Aline Nascimento Santos, the baby’s mother, claimed that she had breastfed Anthony and placed him in his pram to sleep that morning.
Aline said her husband Gabriel did not take part
Image: Newsflash
Two hours later, Santos’ husband noticed that the infant was not breathing as he was preparing to leave for work.
Santos initially told police that Anthony may have choked on her breastmilk while regurgitating it.
However, her account was dismissed when an autopsy revealed that the cause of the infant’s death was mechanical asphyxia by indirect suffocation.
The couple's home in Itapevi
Image: Newsflash
Police chief Adair Marques Correa Junior said: “The expert told me that there was no milk in the stomach, esophagus, or airways. Therefore, he did not choke.
“He had a lesion in the face region that suggests a bruise made by finger pressure, so the expert believes that a hand was placed over his mouth and nose.”
In a shocking turn of events, Santos eventually confessed to killing her three-month-old son to authorities.
She claimed that her husband, Gabriel de Sousa Hyppolito, did not take part in the crime.
The admission of guilt has left many reeling with sadness and disbelief as the details surrounding the case continue to emerge.
advertisement
The 24-year-old - who has another child, aged two - said: “I put the dummy in his mouth and put the blanket around his face over the dummy.
Aline said she "tired of everything"
Image: Newsflash
“I squeezed it very tightly and put him back in the pram, face down, with his head and belly down.”
She added: “I couldn’t take being inside the house anymore. I only thought of bad things. Sometimes I thought about taking a knife and killing myself.”
During her confession to authorities, Santos revealed that her three-month-old son, Anthony, had been crying “a lot” and that she “was tired of everything”.
However, she maintains that she did not suffocate or squeeze his face with her hand, despite admitting to wrapping him in a blanket and placing him face-down in his pram.
Image: Newsflash
Hyppolito, Santos’ 24-year-old husband, was also arrested in connection with the case. He allegedly knew about his wife’s actions and lied in his initial statement to the police.
advertisement
Both Hyppolito and Santos are currently in custody and under investigation for their involvement in their infant son’s death.
As the investigation continues, their two-year-old child is being cared for by their grandparents.
This tragedy has deeply affected many, and we hope for justice to be served for the innocent victim in this tragic case.