Texas Mother Sentenced 30 Years for Fatal Infant Injury

Samantha Elizabeth Baker, a 23-year-old woman from San Antonio, Texas, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for causing fatal injuries to her one-month-old infant son in 2023. Baker initially claimed she found her baby unresponsive but later admitted to hitting him on the head hard about three times with an open palm out of frustration while he was crying. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that the infant suffered a fractured skull due to blunt-force trauma, and his injuries were inconsistent with Baker's initial account. After the incident, Baker placed the baby face-up in a bassinet but woke to find him unresponsive, prompting her to call the child's father who then called 911. Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales highlighted the sentencing as a reflection of the community's commitment to protecting children and holding those who harm them accountable. The baby was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after emergency medical services arrived.