Indiana woman accused of burning friend’s baby with lighter, treadmill

MUNCIE, Ind. — An Indiana woman is behind bars after investigators said she burned a friend's infant daughter with a lighter and a treadmill.

According to WXIN-TV, Muncie police arrested Amber Vannatter, 20, of Fort Wayne, early Saturday and charged her with three counts each of battery and neglect of a dependent.

Authorities learned of the possible abuse Friday when the baby, who is about 1 year old, was treated for several injuries, including a bloody mouth, abrasions, burns and a broken wrist, at a Muncie hospital, WXIN reported. The child's mother told investigators that Vannatter had been watching the baby that afternoon before dropping the girl off at her mother's work about 9:30 p.m., according to the Muncie Star Press.

Police questioned Vannatter, who initially provided conflicting stories about what had happened to the child, WXIN reported. She eventually admitted that, while feeling depressed, she had burned the baby with a lighter and pressed the girl's face on a moving treadmill, according to the news outlets.

Vannatter is being held at the Delaware County jail on a $60,000 bond, the Star Press reported.

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Cox Media Group