Local

Jacksonville baby may have been hogtied; cousin convicted

A baby left with broken bones and life-threatening injuries may have been hogtied while in the care of her babysitter.

A year after Belle Baker was seriously injured, she is improving and her babysitter has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

The hogtying allegations came up during a sentencing hearing for Terrvahnda Rock, who is the cousin of Belle’s mother.

PHOTOS: Jacksonville toddler seriously hurt in babysitter's care

“Eight years is really a long time to be away from your kids. I know. But I almost lost my daughter due to her not being responsible,” said Belle’s mother, Ashley Ervin.

In October 2015, 7-month-old Belle’s arms, legs and clavicle were broken and her brain was swelling, which caused her to have seizures.

“It’s disgusting. It’s sickening,” Ervin said.

Rock told the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office that Belle fell down the stairs while she was babysitting her, but the Child Protection Team said that story didn’t add up.

22-year-old killed after falling from back of motorcycle on I-295 in Jacksonville

Rock was originally charged with aggravated child abuse and child neglect, but the state dropped the abuse charge because there wasn’t enough evidence that Rock was the one who hurt Belle.

Ervin said her cousin may be covering up for someone, and that the person who hurt her child could still be out there.

“Still out there, living life, normal,” Ervin said. “I don’t hate her. You’re always supposed to forgive but I won’t forget what she did.”

Ervin said her cousin never offered an explanation for what happened to her child, other than saying she fell down the stairs, and she has not apologized.

Florida oncologist faces 500 years in prison for prescribing smuggled, unapproved cancer medicine