Woman accused of child abuse of 3-month-old in Madera, deputies say
A caregiver for a 3-month-old baby was arrested on suspicion of child abuse after the infant suffered head trauma, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.
A baby was reported as being unresponsive on Jan. 13, sparking an emergency response, deputies said. The baby was taken to a local hospital “due to severe head trauma,” the sheriff’s office said.
Medical professionals determined the infant’s injuries to be inconsistent with any type of fall, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies identified the woman who was not related to the child but was providing care as Tonya Hamilton, 50, and she was arrested on suspicion of child abuse.
The sheriff’s office declined on Friday to be more specific about potential causes for the baby’s injuries, but in a social media post the same day the sheriff’s office warned against the shaking of a baby.
“Shaking a baby, even for a few seconds, can cause permanent brain injury or death,” the post said. “If you are feeling overwhelmed, place the baby in a safe location and step away. Ask for help. There is never an excuse for shaking a child.”
This story was corrected from an earlier version.
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 4:50 PM.
