PITTSBURGH -- Police say a woman poisoned her baby with table salt in her Tennessee home and then tried to finish the job and kill the 4-month-old at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Amber Brewington, 21, was arrested Wednesday on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children. She's being held in the Allegheny County Jail, where she was undergoing psychiatric evaluation.
Pittsburgh police said a hospital staff member saw Brewington, of Duck River, Tenn., standing over the baby, Noah King, on Tuesday night and noticed that someone had tampered with his feeding tube.
According to the criminal complaint, the woman told police she was suffering from severe postpartum depression, and she was trying to speed up the death of her son, who she said became severely ill in May and later suffered possible brain damage.
But police said they believe the baby's medical problems were caused entirely by the mother.
The boy was transferred to Children's on July 9 from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., to be treated for high levels of sodium. The Tennessee Department of Children's Services was involved in the case at that point, Channel 4 Action News reported.
During that time, the boy's father traveled with him to Pittsburgh and his condition began to improve, police Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki said.
"On July 13, his mother came up from Tennessee, and on that date, the child's condition suddenly became worse," Stangrecki said. The baby was in critical condition Wednesday afternoon.
Pittsburgh police questioned Brewington early Wednesday. They said they found a canister of salt, a syringe and a bottle of Pedialyte in her backpack.
"We believe last night was another attempt to deliver more salt water or sodium to her child," Stangrecki said.
Sodium poisoning can have long-term effects including "brain injury and profound neurological impairment, even to death," said Dr. Basil Zitelli, of Children's Hospital.
Brewington's brother, Josh, told a Nashville television reporter that he was unaware of the Pittsburgh incident and couldn't believe the news.
"She's a good mom every time I'm around the kids," he said. "They've always been bathed and fed."
A neighbor at the mobile home park where Brewington lives was also stunned, saying these things don't happen in their neighborhood.
"She stayed to herself," the neighbor said. "She didn't come outside much."
The baby remains at Children’s Hospital.
Watch The Report From WTAE Channel 4 Action News reporter Shannon Perrine
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