Babysitter FaceTimes parents to tell them how she hurt their 3-month-old so badly his pupil ruptured and surgeons had to remove half of his skull

A California babysitter allegedly shook a 3-month-old boy so severely that his pupil ruptured and surgeons had to remove half of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain, according to the child’s parents and local authorities. The babysitter reportedly FaceTimed the parents, claiming she had fallen on the baby and accidentally injured him.

Chris Musselman, father of Braxton Musselman, told local NBC and CBS affiliates KSEE and KFPE, “We got a FaceTime from the babysitter. She told us she had fallen on him and woke up to find he was unresponsive.”

Doctors at the hospital, however, told a different story. “His injuries weren’t consistent with a fall… they were consistent with a baby that had been shaken,” Musselman said. Because of the severity of the injuries, the medical staff, acting as mandatory reporters, notified Child Protective Services and law enforcement.

The babysitter, 50-year-old Tonya Hamilton, was arrested and charged with felony child abuse following the report from Braxton’s parents, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office said. She is currently out on bond and scheduled to appear in court on March 9.

“It’s been absolutely tragic,” Musselman said. “No parent should ever have to go through this. No child should ever have to be treated this way.” Braxton was under Hamilton’s care on January 13 when she called police to report he was unresponsive.

The sheriff’s office said in a press release that Braxton was rushed to a local hospital for emergency surgery after suffering severe head trauma. Medical professionals determined that his injuries were not consistent with any type of fall. Hamilton, described as a “non-relative caregiver,” was booked on child abuse charges.

“Shaking a baby, even for a few seconds, can cause permanent brain injury or death,” the release warned. “If you are feeling overwhelmed, place the baby in a safe location and step away. Ask for help. There is never an excuse for shaking a child.”

A GoFundMe page set up by Braxton’s parents described the extent of his injuries:

“Braxton suffered a severe brain injury and a ruptured pupil. The brain injury required two brain surgeries with over 300 milliliters of blood needing to be drained. The injury and swelling were so severe that doctors had to remove the right half of his skull to relieve pressure. After more than a week in the ICU, he has since had his breathing tube removed and is no longer sedated.”

The parents said Braxton has regained minimal movement in his left extremities, but his cry has changed.

Toni Nelson, Braxton’s mother, told reporters, “You know your babies’ cries and what they want and need. Now, I just don’t know anymore. He is missing the whole right side of his skull. We don’t know if he will come home with a skull or without one.”

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