A 27-year-old Wisconsin mother has been charged with attempted murder after her eight-week-old baby was found to have a brain bleed and multiple fractures, consistent with non-accidental trauma. Shannon McNease was arrested on 4 September 2025 following an investigation by Bremerton Police Department.
Police said the infant was taken to Virginia Mason Franciscan Emergency Room in Bremerton with diarrhoea and vomiting. Tests revealed she had severe injuries, including a brain bleed and 20 rib fractures, as well as six metaphyseal fractures. Doctors said the injuries were consistent with shaking an infant and could not have occurred during routine care.
According to court records, the baby also had injuries to her legs. A doctor stated that children's ribs are flexible and difficult to fracture, adding that the presence of multiple rib fractures is strongly suggestive of child abuse. The medic explained that metaphyseal fractures typically occur when a baby is shaken forcibly or when parts of the body are pulled and stretched.
During the investigation, police discovered that McNease had told a friend in an online conversation that she had homicidal intent towards the infant. The baby survived the injuries and is now in the care of family members.
McNease has been charged with Attempted Murder in the First Degree and Assault of a Child in the First Degree. She is being held in Kitsap County Jail on a $1 million bond. It is unclear if any charges will be filed against the baby's father.
