A Washington state mother is facing serious charges after police allege she shook her baby, leaving the infant with a brain bleed and multiple fractures. According to the Bremerton Police Department, officers responded on August 7 to the Virginia Mason Franciscan Emergency Room after the child’s father rushed the 8-week-old in for treatment.
Doctors determined the baby had suffered a brain bleed consistent with being shaken, along with several broken bones in different stages of healing. Medical staff concluded the injuries were not accidental. Investigators say the child was in the care of her mother, Shannon McNease, at the time of the injuries.
Police also uncovered troubling online conversations in which McNease allegedly expressed violent thoughts toward her baby. Court documents reviewed by KIRO-TV reveal that McNease sent a Facebook message to a friend, writing, “Like I legit want to shake her to death or throw her on top of the floor so hard she dies.
Only when she’s crying and screaming, though, which I guess is almost pretty much all the time at this point. Her cries make me feel like I’m gonna snap and murder.” Authorities further allege that McNease also messaged the baby’s father, writing, “She’s back on her BS again,” and, “I can’t stand her dude.”
When questioned by police, McNease reportedly said she did not mean what she had written. She told investigators she suffers from anxiety and has been struggling with postpartum depression since the birth of her child.
The case took a major turn on September 4 when the Mason County Sheriff’s Office announced McNease’s arrest. She now faces charges of first-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault of a child.
Law enforcement officials emphasized the disturbing nature of both the injuries and the alleged online admissions. Detectives say the combination of medical evidence and digital communications led to swift charges.
Child welfare experts note that cases involving infant abuse can be among the most difficult to detect, as young children cannot verbalize what is happening to them. Doctors often rely on patterns of injuries, such as fractures in different stages of healing, to determine abuse.
Authorities say the child is now in a safe environment while the investigation continues. No additional details about the infant’s current condition have been released.
The case has drawn attention to the struggles some parents face with postpartum depression and the importance of intervention before stress escalates into violence. Still, prosecutors stress that the seriousness of the injuries and the messages uncovered point to deliberate harm.