Florida woman charged in infant death after ring linked to head injury

A Florida woman, 42-year-old Jessica Vlasac, has been charged in connection with the death of her 3-month-old son in Lakeland. Vlasac initially told deputies that she had accidentally fallen asleep while co-sleeping and discovered the infant unresponsive and cold to the touch.

However, investigators and medical examiners found evidence contradicting her account. An autopsy performed by Dr. Stephen Nelson revealed subdural hemorrhaging and three separate impact injuries to the infant's forehead. Specifically, a 1.7 cm by 1 cm L-shaped injury was identified as being consistent with a square-like object.

Detectives noted that during an interview following the autopsy, Vlasac was wearing a large, diamond-like stone ring that matched the shape of the injury. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, during the execution of a search warrant to seize the ring and electronic devices, Vlasac allegedly asked investigators if the ring was what killed the victim.