Florida 4-month-old infant found with 18 rib fractures, mom arrested, police say

Mugshot of Vanessa Rodriguez

An Orlando mother was arrested after her baby was found with 18 rib fractures during a doctor's visit, deputies said. 

On March 12, 2024, an officer responded to the Nemours Children's Health Pulmonology center in reference to a "possible incident" of child abuse, arrest records show. 

The doctor told the deputy he examined a 4-month-old premature baby who needed a chest X-ray because she was being monitored due to being premature. 

When the doctor received the x-rays back, he concluded that the baby suffered from "multiple bilateral rib fractures in various stages of healing," records show.

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A DCF investigator met with the baby's mother, Vanessa Rodriguez, who was asked to bring the baby back to the hospital for further evaluation. 

A skeletal survey was done and revealed the baby had 18 rib fractures. 

After an interview with a deputy, Rodriguez was arrested for aggravated child abuse.