A self-proclaimed mommy blogger has been charged with shaking her boyfriend’s baby daughter until she passed out and eventually died from her injuries.
Brianna Valenti, 26, of Grand Island in New York, faces numerous charges in connection to death of Raelynn Rose Fuller, 2, including reckless assault of a child, police announced.
Cody Fuller, the victim’s father told WKBW on Monday that doctors believe she had been shaken ‘almost to death’ by Valenti on the afternoon of September 10.
Raelynn died over the weekend as a result of her injuries at Oishei children’s hospital.
Raelynn Rose Fuller (pictured) died from injuries sustained as a result of child abuse, police say
Brianna Valenti, 26, (left) has been charged in connection with the death of Raelynn Rose Fuller, who was the daughter of her boyfriend of over one year Cody Fuller (right)
Valenti had been looking after her that day, along with her own daughter, 5, when the alleged assault unfolded, Fuller said.
She reportedly called him, saying his daughter had passed out and was having ‘trouble breathing’.
Paramedics were called and the little girl was rushed to John R Oishei Children’s Hospital with ‘injuries resulting in her being unresponsive,’ police said.
She was admitted to the intensive care unit, and deputies with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office were contacted by Erie County Child Protective Services soon afterwards.
On September 11, authorities arrested Valenti and charged her. She was still being held Monday at the Erie County Holding Center on $150,000 bail.
Police would not say if she will face further charges following the death of Fuller’s daughter on Saturday.
In a statement they said: ‘On September 11, Detectives arrested Valenti and charged her with a felony count of reckless assault of a child, a felony count of assault – conduct causing risk of death, and a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.
On Friday a family member shared a heartbreaking image of Raelynn (pictured) in the intensive care unit of Oishei Children’s Hospital before she sadly passed away
Valenti is described by police as an acquaintance of the biological father.
Captain Greg Savage, who works with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, told WIBV4:
‘What exactly did she do or not do, what exactly are the baby’s injuries and what was her intent [are under investigation, we believe she was assaulted.
‘It’s very serious and we believe that is the person that caused the injuries.
‘We were notified by the hospital that it appeared there may have been some type of injuries inflicted on the child and that’s when detectives went over there and that’s when the investigation began.
Police are currently investigating the motive which resulted in the death of Raelynn (pictured)
Valenti and the victim’s father (left) have been dating since May 2017. She (right) wrote on Facebook how ‘patience is a virtue’ for parents who ‘get better at handling it’ as time goes on
According to her Facebook page, Brianna Valenti enjoys writing about her experiences as a mother.
She writes for a blog called “Weird, Wicked & Wild,” and is listed as its head parenting blogger.
Despite that title, Valenti does not appear to have contributed lately. Her last post under the “parenting” tab was dated August 20, 2017.
She has been dating Fuller since May 2017. Valenti also spoke of her relationship with Fuller’s daughter and her own little one in a blog post from August 2017.
‘It’s a blessing to wake up everyday to little feet running down the hallway, yelling ‘good morning!’ Valenti said.
‘And even if the day does start as you waking up to her, messing with her little sister in her crib, patience is a virtue parents — life doesn’t get easier. We just get better at handling it’.
In her biography, Valenti encourages readers to reach out to her, writing, ‘Whether you just need advice, or a laugh, or even someone who understands what you’re going through!’.
It is understood that funeral arrangements have been made for the child , but they want them to remain private.