Mother arrested for giving 13-month-old daughter bottle containing bleach: HCSO

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A woman was arrested after law enforcement said she gave her 13-month-old daughter a bottle containing bleach.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said it was notified of the incident on Jan. 2 by a concerned parent, who discovered that Melissa Barnes, 22, was living in an unpowered shed with the baby who was “cold, cluttered and unsanitary.

Deputies said when the parent removed the baby and attempted to feed the baby, the baby refused the bottle. When the relative looked closer, they discovered that the bottle contained bleach, which Barnes claimed to use to rinse her.

HCSO detectives launched an investigation and the Department of Children and Families removed the baby from Barnes' care and placed him with a relative.

After obtaining a search warrant for the shed, detectives said they found disinfectant and bleach-based paint. They added that the contents of the baby bottle were sent to the FBI laboratory for analysis, which confirmed the presence of chlorine-based bleach.

An arrest warrant for Barnes was obtained on May 28, and on June 3, she was taken into custody by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office and charged with child abuse and neglect.

HCSO said Barnes is currently in jail in Highlands County and will be brought to Hillsborough County at a later date. The investigation is ongoing.