Mother of Jacksonville baby fatally slammed into playpen by babysitter: 'I can't forgive that'

Police say 5-month-old Cooper Dubovik died after his babysitter Barbara Kendrick admitted to throwing him into his playpen.

Cooper's mother Teal Garvin opened up to Action News Jax.

“To not be able to hold him, and to not be able to see his smile, it’s just so hard, it’s so incredibly hard,” Garvin said.

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On March 7, police were called out to a home on Davis Road. Baby Cooper had stopped breathing.

Police said 65-year-old Kendrick admitted she threw the 5-month-old into his playpen. Kendrick told officers she had been watching Cooper for approximately two months.

Cooper's mother said she never imagined Kendrick would hurt her only child. “To wait 16 minutes while you watch him gasp for air trying to stay alive, you chose to kill him. I can’t forgive that.”

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Reports said Cooper was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. He had a skull fracture and no brain activity. The next day, he passed away.

Now, his parents are fighting for justice

“I just can’t even begin to explain how hard it is.”

Kendrick’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 29.

To help Cooper's family, you can donate to their Go Fund Me page
https://www.gofundme.com/babycooperjax

Cox Media Group