South Carolina woman accused of nearly shaking 4-month-old to death while babysitting

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A Little River woman is facing a felony child abuse charge after state investigators say she nearly shook a 4-month-old to death.

Shonta Maria Gore-Bellamy, 45, was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Thursday on one count of inflicting great bodily injury upon a child — a Class C felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

A South Carolina Law Enforcement affidavit said Bellamy was babysitting the infant between Feb. 5 and April 10, when the incident allegedly occurred.

An unidentified person picked up the child and noticed visible injuries to his face that weren’t there when he was dropped off.

The infant was evaluated at multiple hospitals and sustained injuries including bruising around his eyes and lips, brain bleeds of various sizes, a fractured leg and four broken ribs.

All injuries “were consistent with physical abuse specifically, abusive head trauma caused by multiple episodes of shaking,” Special Agent Logan Osman reported. “According to medical professionals, these injuries caused a substantial risk of death, required prolonged treatment and occurred during the time period that Gore-Bellamy babysat.”

Gore-Bellamy was discharged from the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Oct. 3 after posting a $10,000 bond, according to intake records. Court information wasn’t immediately known.

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