An Ohio woman was arrested for child abuse after witnesses reported seeing her violently dunking her 3-month-old infant in a lake.
Warren County police arrested Sharon Rose O’Hara, 39, on charges of felony child abuse.
According to prosecutors, witnesses reported in July that O’Hara was allegedly slamming a car seat on the ground at Caesar Creek State Park while the infant was strapped in.
O’Hara then allegedly became even more aggressive, dragging the car seat and baby over to the water and slamming her into it.
She then reportedly removed the baby from the car seat and began violently dunking him in the lake. Bystanders rushed over to stop O’Hara and help the baby, while others dialed 911.
According to Cincinnati Fox affiliate WXIX, O’Hara was also accompanying a 9-year-old child to the park.
That child told police that their mother had mistreated the children in the days leading up to the incident in the park.
The infant’s condition was not made clear.
“On July 28, 2024, at Caesar Creek State Park, defendant caused serious physical harm to her three-month-old child and created a substantial risk to the health and safety of her nine-year-old child,” according to the grand jury’s report.
O’Hara was arrested on December 17 and is being held at Warren County Jail. No bond was indicated. She is scheduled to appear in court on December 20.
She was charged with three counts of endangering children and one count of felony assault.
WXIX reported that the children were in the care of a relative.
