Hempstead Woman Faces Attempted Murder Charge After Swinging 21-Month-Old Daughter Into Wall, DA Says

HEMPSTEAD, NY — A Hempstead woman is facing attempted murder and assault charges this week after prosecutors say she slammed her toddler-aged daughter into a wall at their Hempstead apartment.

Chantel Barnes, 28, was arraigned Thursday on one count of second-degree attempted murder, one count of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree assault, and a count of endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors said. Patch attempted to reach Barnes' attorney, Ryan Holt, for comment Friday morning.

The charges stem from a March 9 incident in which Barnes walked into the hallway of her apartment building carrying her 21-year-old daughter and began to fling her in circles, prosecutors said. During that incident, prosecutors said Barnes swung her daughter into a concrete wall.

Moments later, the girl’s father returned home from work, prosecutors said, finding his daughter on the hallway floor and calling police. Barnes fled the apartment building, prosecutors said; her daughter was taken to Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center, where she was treated for fractures to her skull and clavicle, among other injuries.

“A 21-month-old toddler girl was left with serious injuries after a violent and chaotic attack, allegedly committed by her own mother,” Donnelly said. “Screaming that she had killed her child, this defendant ran into the hallway allegedly aggressively swinging the toddler into a wall, slamming her head and face repeatedly.”

Barnes entered a not guilty plea and had her bail set at $110,000 cash, $200,000 bond and $1 million partially secured bond, prosecutors said. If she’s found guilty, prosecutors say Barnes could face up to 25 years in prison.

As for the girl, she was released into the care of her father 11 days after the incident, on March 20, prosecutors said. Thursday, Donnelly said she had miraculously made a full recovery.

“After medical intervention, the little girl has incredibly made a full recovery,” Donnelly said. “Violent crimes against vulnerable children are unthinkable, especially at the hands of parents who should be the most trusted adults in a child’s life. We will prosecute these cases and protect our children.”