AUSTIN, TX – A Texas woman is confronting the possibility of a death sentence after authorities allege she fatally beat her 3-month-old daughter and falsely implicated her toddler in the tragic incident.
Brittney Bailey, 31, was charged Monday with capital murder of a child under the age of six by Travis County prosecutors, according to official records. The legal action follows a harrowing series of events that began in March.
Police were first called to The Revl Apartments on North Lamar Boulevard on the night of March 10 after receiving reports that an infant was unresponsive. Emergency services joined the efforts, and the baby was rushed to a hospital for urgent medical care. Despite their best attempts, the child succumbed to her injuries on March 15.
While the cause of death remained unpublicized initially, investigators did reveal signs of maltreatment on the victim’s twin sibling, leading to charges against Bailey for injuring a child, a severe first-degree felony.
In the days following the incident, Bailey suggested multiple narratives to explain her daughter’s injuries. Initially, she claimed the child rolled off a changing surface, an event she said was witnessed by her 17-month-old. However, during a formal interrogation on March 21, Bailey’s claim shifted to implicate her toddler for the harm. Detectives, having gathered potentially contradicting evidence, reportedly disproved her story, which led to an abrupt end to the interview session as Bailey exited.
Post-arrest, Bailey was briefly released from custody after securing a bond set at $250 on the charges connected to her surviving child.
The case took a pivotal turn following an autopsy report on Oct. 4 by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office, deeming the infant’s death a homicide due to evidence of blunt force head trauma. The report suggested a pattern of prior injuries, further complicating Bailey’s defense.
Court documents—including an investigation into Bailey’s internet history days before the infant’s death—revealed searches related to infants suffering injuries or being shaken, providing additional context for the charges she faces.
Bailey remains in the Travis County Jail under a $600,000 bond. Her court appearance is slated for November 14, where she will address the serious accusations against her.
