Event Brief
UPDATED Sep 13, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET
Sep 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
Lakeland mom charged after autopsy links injuries
By The BriefBrief
A 42-year-old Lakeland woman faces an aggravated child abuse charge after a Polk County autopsy found a 3-month-old boy died from violent head impacts, not an accidental co-sleeping incident, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say she initially described falling asleep with the baby and later made statements including, “I think I killed our son.”
WHO: Jessica Vlasac, 42, of Lakeland; Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Medical Examiner Dr. Stephen Nelson
WHAT: Arrest and aggravated child abuse charge after autopsy findings contradict an alleged accidental co-sleeping account; investigators linked injuries to a square-like object and examined a matching ring.
WHEN: Sep 6, 2026
WHERE: Polk County, Florida (Lakeland)
WHY: The autopsy determined the infant’s death resulted from violent head impacts, contradicting the reported accidental co-sleeping explanation.
Reporting from 2 identified publishers across this event arc.
View all 2 publishers
Publishers represented across this event arc
These publishers contributed reporting to the broader event history. Not every source addresses the specific development described above.
How this brief is built: The BriefBrief correlates multiple sources into one evolving event brief, updated as new facts emerge.
Pennsylvania Man Convicted in 2021 Polk Rental Attack
Polk County
Sep 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
Uthmeier to hold press conference at Florida SO
Florida
Sep 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
Fralick family to open modern Japanese Toro in Odessa
Tampa Bay
Sep 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
Afterglow portrait exhibit opens at Santa Monica Pier
Los Angeles
Sep 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
