Shakeitha Cartwright (Source: Center Police)CENTER, TX (KTRE) -
Center Police have arrested a woman accused of beating her baby girl to death Wednesday morning.
According to a Center Police press release, officers responded to a house at 1207 Shelbyville St., in reference to an unresponsive child. EMS arrived and took her to a Center hospital. A justice of the peace pronounced her dead at 10:15 a.m.
The child has been identified as five-month-old Keilly Hoyt.
Police arrested the mother, Shakeitha Cartwright, 29, at 11:10 p.m., on a charge of murder. The charge has since been upgraded to capital murder.
"Yesterday a baby was found to be unresponsive. A 911 call was made and subsequent investigation revealed significant bodily injuries to the child and that's why it has been enhanced to capital murder," said Shelby County District Attorney Kenneth Florence.
Cartwright is being held on a $500,000 bail.
Florence said the baby suffered injuries to the ribs, back and skull.
"Everything is preliminary now. The autopsy results are pending at the medical examiner's office in Dallas. So what I have is preliminary and there has been no finding of it as of yet, but my understanding is the preliminary findings will involve numerous broken ribs, a broken back and fractured skull among other injuries," said Florence.
An examination showed the baby had evidence of previous wounds that had healed, leading authorities to believe the baby had been beaten before.
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