Father suspected of the crime

Dead infant in Vienna – mother now arrested

The General Hospital alerted the police after the incident, as the baby showed the brain injuries typically associated with so-called shaking trauma.

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER (Symbolbild))

In the case of the baby who presumably died in Vienna in February as a result of a shaking trauma, the mother was released from custody on Friday. According to the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office, the 26-year-old woman is no longer under urgent suspicion. The prosecution is investigating the parents on suspicion of murder. The father remains in custody, the 29-year-old is still suspected of having committed murder.

The baby's mother had visited a hospital with the infant at 11 p.m. on February 3, where treatment of the presumably abused infant was started. However, medical help came too late for the little boy.

Declared dead three days later
At the time of admission to hospital, he was no longer functioning. Three days later, the life-support equipment was switched off and the boy was pronounced dead.

Hospital notified police
The hospital subsequently alerted the police, as the baby showed the brain injuries typically associated with so-called shaking trauma. The little body also had a broken arm and a broken rib.

Public prosecutor's spokeswoman Judith Ziska announced that the cause of death has now been determined. The baby "clearly" died as a result of a shaking trauma.