Waseca woman faces felony charge over infant's injuries

A Waseca woman is facing felony and misdemeanor charges for child abuse after her five month old baby sustained significant injuries to the shoulder, body and head.

Heather Rose Clark, 20, was booked into Waseca County Jail on June 20 on a felony charge of 3rd degree assault against a person under four years old as well a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault with intent to inflict bodily harm upon a family member.

According to a statement provided to police by Clark’s fiance, the father of the child, the alleged incident took place on June 18. According to the fiance’s account, Clark had been drinking heavily when he heard a slapping noise, which Clark claimed was her slapping herself.

The fiance stated that the incident further escalated into a suicide attempt, with Clark grabbing a knife from the knife block. According to the fiance, Clark has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and is on prescription medications for treatment.

According to the fiance, he was able to get the knife away from Clark, though not until after she had cut herself. Clark, the fiance and the baby then went to the home of the fiance’s mother in Owatonna, which is where bruising on the baby’s body was first observed.

At the emergency room in Rochester, the baby was observed to have significant bruising to the left ear, left side of the scalp and left top shoulder, small bruises on both forearms, and abrasions on the left cheek, back left outside of thigh, left calf, and right lower part of jaw bone.

Clark was booked into Waseca County Jail on June 20 but granted conditional release later in the day. The court’s conditional release includes an extensive list of requirements, including regular contact with an attorney and no use of alcohol, drugs or THC, aside from prescribed medications.