JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville mother is pleading for justice after her daughter was severely hurt while in the care of a babysitter.
Belle Baker, who is 9 months old, was hurt in October, when police said her babysitter told investigators the baby fell down the stairs.
Recommended Videos
Belle's mother, Ashley Ervin, said her daughter is still dealing with the injuries, including broken limbs.
Ervin said she's concerned, because the babysitter was never held responsible.
The Department of Children and Families investigated the incident to see if Belle suffered from abuse or neglect, but there were no such findings, and the case was closed.
Ervin said regardless of those results, she’s fighting for action to be taken.
She said she keeps replaying the images of Belle covered in casts and bandages.
“When I got there, she had multiple injuries,” Ervin said. “She had two broken arms and two broken legs.”
In October, Ervin said Belle was in the care of her cousin when she got a horrifying phone call.
“She said she fell down the stairs,” Ervin said.
In the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office report, the babysitter told police Belle possibly pulled herself to the stairway by sliding across the tile floor and then climbed on a child seat nearby that caused her to fall down the stairs.
The sitter said Belle landed halfway down the 13-step staircase.
But Ervin believes that’s not the whole story.
“I still want to know what happened to my daughter,” Ervin said. “I can’t tell anyone what happened to my daughter, because I don’t know what happened to her.”
Months later, Ervin is still looking for answers.
“I take her to numerous appointments. She’s on medication for seizures, and now it’s like she’s very traumatized,” Ervin said. “She’s scared to walk.”
In addition to the financial burden of medical bills, Ervin said she had to quit her job to take care of Belle through her recovery.
Even though the little girl is healing well, Ervin said it doesn’t take the family’s pain away.
“I just want justice for my daughter, because no parent should have to go through this,” Ervin said.
News4Jax attempted to reach the babysitter for comment, but no one was at her home.
Ervin said she has cut ties with that side of the family.