Fl. mother charged with attemped murder of son, tells cops life would be easier if baby was dead

A Titusville woman was arrested Thursday afternoon in the attempted murder of her 11-month-old son, police said.

Police said on Oct. 6, Christina McIntyre’s 2-year-old son piled blankets and a bean bag chair onto the baby and climbed onto the pile and jumped until the baby stopped breathing. Police are not sure if the mother encouraged the boy to do this, or if she simply did not stop it.

The 23-year-old mother eventually called 911 and said she would let them decide if the baby lived or died. She said she told dispatchers that she did CPR, but had not, but then decided that she wanted her baby to live, so she did five heart compressions while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Paramedics were able to revive the child with oxygen.

“The facts are disturbing for anyone, but as a parent it’s got to be disgusting to think that somebody would sit there and watch an 11-month-old, and then 11-month-old did stop breathing,“ Titusville police Lt. Todd Hutchinson said. “She said she was better off.“

According to the charging affidavit, the woman told police that her life would be easier if the infant was dead. She said she wanted to go back to work, but that she could not afford day care for both of her children, so if the infant was dead she could afford to put her toddler in day care.

Police said the mother waited about a minute after the baby stopped moving to pull her other child off, after which she took the 2-year-old into his room and spanked him for smothering his brother.

Officials said paramedics arrived who took the baby to the hospital. Suspicions by doctors led to a surveillance camera in the baby’s hospital room and police said McIntyre finally confessed.

The mother admitted to fabricating incidents to doctors that the 11-month-old had apnea to cover for him nearly dying, saying she feared her children would be taken away, according to the charging affidavit.

Neighbors said they were shocked and knew McIntyre as a caring mother.

“I’m shocked,“ Jimmy Mullins said. “She took great care of those kids.“

The toddler and the baby are in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

The mother is being booked into the Brevard County Jail with no bond. She is charged with attempted felony murder, aggravated child abuse, child abuse and child neglect causing great bodily harm.