Mom Wanted Baby to Die

Christina McIntyre, 23, of  Titusville, Fla. has been charged with attempted felony murder, aggravated child abuse, child abuse and child neglect causing great bodily harm.

The charges stem from an incident in which McIntyre watched as her 2-year-old son piled blankets and a bean bag chair onto the baby and climbed onto the pile and jumped until the baby stopped breathing. Police are not sure if the mother encouraged the boy to do this, or if she simply did not stop it.

Police said the mother waited about a minute after the baby stopped moving to pull her other child off, after which she took the 2-year-old into his room and spanked him for smothering his brother.

McIntyre then waited for sometime before calling 911, deciding to leave it up to them if the baby lived or died. She told the 911 dispatcher she had administered CPR when she had not. Just before the paramedics arrived she apparently had a change of heart and did five heart compressions in an unsuccessful attempt to revive her child. Fortunately when the paramedics arrived they were able to save the infant with oxygen.

At the hospital doctors became suspicious. She finally admitted to lying to them that the 11-month-old had apnea, to cover for him nearly dying, saying she feared her children would be taken away. The police were called in and McIntyre confessed what had really happened.

Christina McIntyre confessed that she watched the baby struggle for breath, fight for life and then fall unconscious.  She told police that her life would be easier if the infant was dead. She said she wanted to go back to work, but that she could not afford day care for both of her children, so if the infant was dead she could afford to put her toddler in day care.

Neighbors said they were shocked and knew McIntyre as a caring mother. The toddler and the baby are in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

"I'm shocked," Jimmy Mullins said. "She took great care of those kids."

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