Officials: Mother jailed after confessing to injure a child on purpose

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A 26-year-old woman has been taken into custody after she allegedly injured her 14-month-old child on purpose.

Milwaukee County Sheriff Detectives on Friday, November 14th responded to a call from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to investigate suspicious and unexplained injuries to a 14-month-old child who had been admitted into the hospital for treatment relative to an ear injury. A medical determination revealed that abuse might be involved.

According to authorities, the 26-year-old mother of the child, identified by officials as Jenna Schumacher, was observed on a hospital in-room camera forcing a Q-tip into the child's ear and then pushing her finger into the child's ear, while alone with the child waiting for exam results. Officials say the child appeared to be agitated and pushing back from the force used by the mother.

Schumacher was conveyed to the MCSO Detective Division where she subsequently confessed to injuring the child on purpose to get back at the child's father for refusing to help her with the child and for ending their relationship.

The mother is being held in custody for felony physical abuse of a child, which is a Class H Felony, pending a review by the District Attorney’s office.

If convicted, the maximum confinement period is six years in prison.  Bail is currently set at $25,000.