Sarasota Mother Charged With Fracturing 3-Week-Old's Skull

SARASOTA, FL -- Detectives with the Sarasota Police Department have arrested a couple on charges of neglect of a child with great bodily harm after their 3-week old daughter sustained a severe head injury.

The baby's mother, Paige Lubaski, 18, told Sarasota Police detectives that on July 14 she took her daughter to Sarasota Memorial Hospital because she was sick.

During the investigation, Lubaski told detectives multiple stories including her daughter fell out of her car carrier on the way out of the house and her daughter hit her head on a dresser.

But when Lubaski arrived at the hospital, she never told doctors about the fall.

Hospital staff called Sarasota Police and the Department of Children and Families because of the unexplained head injuries. DCF conducted an exam and found no foul play.

However, on a follow-up visit on July 18, the baby's pediatrician found swelling and fluid on the baby's brain. During a scan at the hospital, it was determined the baby had a skull fracture with a small brain bleed.

The baby was transferred to All Children's Hospital due to the seriousness of the injury.

On July 20, a child protection team at All Children's Hospital determined the baby's injuries were caused by blunt force trauma. The team was unable to determine exactly what caused the injury but believed it could be several days old.

Lubaski has been charged with neglect of a child with great bodily harm. She has bonded out of the Sarasota County Jail.

The baby's father, Edgar Estrada, 23, has been charged with neglect of a child with great bodily harm for knowing about the baby's injuries but not calling law enforcement. He remains in the Sarasota County Jail.

As of July 26, the baby was still at All Children's Hospital but is expected to survive.

Image via Sarasota Police

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