Woman arrested after 2-year-old found with skull fracture

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - A Winona Lake woman was arrested Thursday after a 2-year-old girl, who was under her care, was found with a skull fracture.

Police said Karen Bartley, 35, of Winona Lake, was arrested and preliminarily charged with neglect of a dependent/endanger life and causing serious bodily injury, a class B felony.

Police said the toddler was brought into the Kosciusko Community Hospital emergency room on December 18 by her father and his fiancée, Bartley. The toddler suffered from instability and was vomiting. She was taken to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne and was found to have a skull fracture.

According to police, Bartley originally said the toddler had thrown a "temper tantrum" and the child repeatedly struck the back of her head against the floor.

Medical officials said the injuries the toddler received did not match up with the actions Bartley had described.

Police said Bartley later admitted she had been playing with the child and had become overly aggressive.

Bartley is being held at the Kosciusko County Jail.