An infant, aged eight weeks, was swiftly taken to the hospital due to a brain hemorrhage after her mother allegedly expressed intentions to harm her in messages on Facebook. Shannon McNease, a 27-year-old from Wisconsin, now faces charges of attempted murder following the concerning injuries sustained by the baby, who was admitted to Virginia Mason Franciscan Emergency Room in Bremerton with symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. Medical evaluations revealed severe injuries, leading to the transfer of the child to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, where medical professionals suspected possible abuse.
According to a statement by the Bremerton Police Department (BPD), the infant was found to have a brain hemorrhage and multiple fractures at different stages of healing, indicating deliberate harm. The police reported that the baby had 20 rib fractures, six metaphyseal fractures, and a brain hemorrhage consistent with infant shaking.
Court documents revealed additional injuries on the baby’s legs, with a doctor stating that the presence of multiple rib fractures strongly suggested child abuse as infant ribs are resilient and hard to fracture. The doctor further explained that these fractures are typically caused by forceful shaking or pulling and stretching of body parts, emphasizing that such injuries do not result from routine infant care.
The Bremerton police department also disclosed that McNease had confided in an online friend about her homicidal intentions towards the infant. After investigations, it was concluded that the injuries likely occurred while the baby was under McNease’s care. Subsequently, the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office pressed charges of Attempted Murder in the First Degree and Assault of a Child in the First Degree against McNease, who was arrested on September 4, 2025, by the Mason County Sheriffs Office in the Shelton area. She is currently held in Kitsap County Jail on a $1 million bond.
The baby, fortunately, survived the injuries and is now in the care of family members. The case remains ongoing, with the status of any potential charges against the baby’s father remaining uncertain.