FREEPORT, Texas – A mother has been accused severely injuring her 6-month-old son.
Freeport police said Maria Kruppa beat her son with her fists at their home on West 6th Street.
Investigators said Kruppa showed up at a hospital Sunday and claimed her son had been hurt in a freak accident.
"The original story is that the child was being removed from his car seat and he fell and hit his head," Assistant Chief Steven Epperley said.
Detectives said they immediately knew that was not the case. Doctors said the boy's head trauma and injuries were not consistent with just a fall. Investigators said the boy had been beaten, shaken and abused.
Kruppa later confessed, police said. She claimed she beat the child because he started crying and she became agitated, investigators said.
Stacey Nelson said she is the aunt of Kruppa's other two children, but not the 6-month-old.
"I am pretty disgusted," Nelson said. "She never displayed that in front of me. Every mom gets frustrated, but you could have walked away.
Kruppa has been charged with felony injury to a child. If convicted, she could face up to life in prison.