Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Father's Longtime Friend Arrested in Death of Baby Boy in Lancaster

The 5-month-old was taken to the hospital where it was discovered that he suffered serious head trauma and bruising on his upper torso.

The longtime friend of an infant's father who was baby-sitting the 5-month-old has been arrested after the child died, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Saturday.

Deputies and paramedics responded Tuesday to a home in the 43400 block of Gadsden Avenue in Lancaster where the mother of the baby boy said he was not breathing.

The 5-month-old was taken to the hospital where it was discovered that he suffered serious head trauma and bruising on his upper torso.

The baby boy died Saturday, about four days after he was admitted to the hospital.

As detectives investigated, they determined the suspected attacker was the longtime friend of the baby's father. 

She was identified by police as Brittany Ingrassi, 30.

She was arrested earlier in the week on suspicion of cruelty to a child likely to produce great bodily injury or death.

Additional charges were expected to be filed against Ingrassi.

Authorities initially said that the deceased child was a girl, but later said the infant was male.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

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