Alabama Woman Faces Trial for Allegedly Killing Special Needs Daughter in Hospital

In a harrowing case that has shocked the nation, 36-year-old Jessica Bortle of Alabama is set to stand trial for the alleged manslaughter and aggravated battery of her 14-year-old special needs daughter, Jasmine Singletary.
 The tragic incident came to light on July 21, 2021, when officers from the Pensacola Police Department responded to a distressing call from the Medical Examiner's Office at Sacred Heart Hospital. They were confronted with the shocking revelation of a homicide involving a young girl with a neuromuscular disorder.
 According to a probable cause affidavit, Jasmine had been admitted to the hospital on July 8, 2021, after suffering a "closed head injury of suspicious origins." Tragically, her condition deteriorated, and five days later, she passed away in her hospital room from what the medical examiner described as "massive injuries similar to those found on traffic crash victims."
 The autopsy performed by the medical examiner unveiled the extent of the horrific incident, revealing two fractured ribs and severe blunt force trauma that had "ripped open" Jasmine's liver, leading to her death within minutes.
 Surveillance footage captured Jessica Bortle exiting her daughter's hospital room and appearing to be in pain moments before the hospital staff discovered Jasmine unconscious. Initially, Bortle denied knowing what could have caused her daughter's injuries but eventually confessed to her actions.
 In her admission to investigators, Bortle described rage triggered by her daughter's frustration over broken crayons. According to the affidavit, Jasmine began to cuss at her, making Bortle angry and lashing out. In a moment of horrifying violence, she slammed a hospital table into Jasmine's abdomen, pressing down on it with her full weight, even after the child expressed pain.
 Testimonies from Jasmine's grandmother, Rose Mathis, further supported the devastating account, recounting a tense situation leading up to the incident. The grandmother revealed that Jasmine's distress over broken crayons caused the situation to escalate, leading to the fatal confrontation with the hospital table.
 After extensive investigations, authorities determined that Bortle's sustained pressure on the table caused the catastrophic "obliteration" of Jasmine's liver, as reported by the medical examiner.
 If Jessica Bortle is found guilty on both counts, she could face up to 45 years in prison.

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