Jealous teen causes seizures in 10 months old baby

West Palm Beach · Carl Soto was jealous of the attention his girlfriend's baby was getting, so he suffocated the 10-month-old boy several times to the point of seizures, police said.Police arrested Soto, 19, after calling him Saturday to St. Mary's Medical Center, where his girlfriend's son underwent tests for a seizure condition police said Soto created in an apparent case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

The baby has no permanent damage. Police charged Soto with aggravated child abuse."He was the only person who would see the onset of the seizures," Detective Lori Colombino said.Soto told police the seizures began after the baby, whose name was not released, got his six-month shots. But police said the seizures began shortly after Soto moved in with the baby's mother about five months ago. The baby would grunt, sweat, shake, foam at the mouth, and his eyes would roll to the back of his head, police said.

Even as they got ready for a doctor's appointment, Soto struck again, police said."He's doing it again," Soto yelled to the baby's mother, according to a police report.Another time, the baby's grandmother had to revive him.The baby continued to have seizures while in the hospital for several days. Nurses grew suspicious and removed the curtain from the room. Though cameras in the room were on, Soto moved them to suffocate the baby again, police said.The baby's mother said she once saw Soto place his thumb under the baby's chin, forcing his mouth to close. He then pinched the baby's nose and counted to 10, she said, adding that she then hit Soto.

He said that's the way to make a baby stop crying, police said."She was very naïve to the fact it was him," Colombino said.The baby is now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families. Soto, who state records show has been arrested in the past on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery charges, remains in the county jail with bail set at $3,000.

Dr. John Wright, of the child protection team of Broward County, said suffocation to cause seizures is one form of Munchausen syndrome by proxy."There are people who do this for a number of reasons," he said. "Maybe that person is just homicidal and wants to make it look like natural causes."Colombino said the baby's seizures have disappeared since Soto's arrest. "He was the cutest little boy," she said. "Active, smiling, happy. He'll be just fine though."