Who is Alauraeve Allen? Indiana mom allegedly searched 'shaken baby syndrome' before shaking 6-month-old girl to death
ELKHART, INDIANA: Alauraeve Allen, a 24-year-old mother from Elkhart, Indiana, was recently arrested on suspicion of murder and neglect of a dependent after the death of her six-month-old daughter earlier this month. Allen later confessed to authorities that she violently shook her daughter after becoming angry with the little child, which officials believe allegedly led to the latter's death.
Investigators also said that the six-month-old girl had "numerous visible injuries" at the time of her death. They further revealed that Allen was fully aware of her actions as she reportedly "researched" about Shaken Baby Syndrome prior to the death of her daughter. Formal charges against the woman are expected to be filed next week, Newsweek reported.
What is known about Alauraeve Allen?
Allen is a 24-year-old Indiana mother from Elkhart who is accused of killing her six-month-old daughter after searching about Shaken Baby Syndrome online. On July 7, Elkhart police and fire departments were reportedly dispatched to Middlebury Street in Elkhart, Indiana, after receiving a call about a baby being unconscious and failing to breathe, according to prosecutor Vicki Elaine Becker.
The child was "rendered aid" after first responders arrived at the scene before being transported to Elkhart General Hospital and eventually being sent to South Bend Memorial Hospital. The infant also had wounds on her body and reportedly died from her injuries on July 8, authorities mentioned. Officials for Elkhart County Homicide Unit observed "numerous visible injuries on the baby's body" before she was sent to the Homer Stryker School of Medicine for a forensic autopsy.
Prosecutors said that the cause of the child's death was ruled a homicide. Allen reportedly told officials that she left her daughter in the care of friends and that the child vomited on her after she returned, prompting her to take a "long bath." She initially claimed that after returning from the shower she noticed the baby was not breathing and called 911 for help.
After being interviewed by law enforcement once again, Allen confessed that she "had been angry with the baby and shook her" on July 6 in their Middlebury Street apartment. Allen also admitted that she allegedly "struck the baby" and had caused injuries on other occasions. "Ms. Allen further advised that the baby appeared to be cold after the shaking event and began vomiting, but she did not take the baby for medical assistance at that time," Becker said in the statement.
"Ms. Allen also stated that she has researched 'shaken baby syndrome' before and understood that a possible consequence of shaking an infant is death," the prosecutor added. Allen was also accused of "endangering" another child earlier this month and is facing charges over the case. Officials said that a toddler was reportedly molested by a child while in Allen's care.
Officials allege that Allen did not report the incident or take measures to prevent it from happening again despite being aware of the situation. The initial hearing for the molestation case has reportedly been scheduled for July 25 while the investigation into the death of her infant daughter is ongoing. Allen will reportedly be held without bond in the Elkhart County Jail until her initial court hearing on August 3 at the Elkhart Circuit Court.
What is Shaken Baby Syndrome?
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), a scientific and educational association with more than 12,000 members, Shaken Baby Syndrome is a "serious form of abuse inflicted upon a child." The organization said that the condition usually occurs when a parent or any caregiver shakes a baby out of "anger or frustration, often because the baby will not stop crying," Newsweek reported.
AANS stated that babies have very weak neck muscles and severe shaking causes their head to move back and forth violently, which often results in brain injury. As per Cleveland Clinic, Shaken Baby Syndrome is a type of "severe child abuse that occurs when a caregiver violently shakes a child." The condition can reportedly cause "swelling, bruising and bleeding in a baby’s brain, and it can lead to brain damage, lifelong disabilities and even death," the clinic mentions.