An infant, just eight weeks old, was urgently taken to the hospital due to a brain hemorrhage after the child’s mother allegedly expressed intentions to harm her in messages on Facebook. Shannon McNease, a 27-year-old resident of Wisconsin, now faces charges of attempted murder following the concerning injuries sustained by the baby, who was initially brought to Virginia Mason Franciscan Emergency Room in Bremerton for gastrointestinal distress. Medical examinations conducted by healthcare professionals revealed severe injuries, leading to the child being transferred to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, where medical staff suspected potential abuse.
The Bremerton Police Department reported that the infant had a brain hemorrhage and multiple fractures indicative of deliberate harm. Authorities mentioned that the baby had 20 rib fractures, six metaphyseal fractures, and a brain injury consistent with infant shaking.
According to court records, the baby also had leg injuries. A doctor who examined the infant stated that multiple rib fractures are highly suggestive of child abuse, as children’s ribs are pliable and not easily fractured. The doctor further explained that the observed fractures typically result from forceful shaking or pulling on the body parts, emphasizing that such injuries do not occur through normal infant handling.
The police department disclosed that McNease had confided in a friend online about having homicidal intentions towards the baby. Investigations pointed to McNease as the likely individual responsible for the injuries sustained by the infant. Charges of attempted murder in the first degree and assault of a child in the first degree were filed against McNease, who was subsequently arrested on September 4, 2025, in the Shelton area by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. She is currently held in custody with a $1 million bond, while any potential legal actions against the baby’s father remain uncertain.
