Mother intentionally 'broke' her little daughter's back before her death, police say

PHOENIX (KTVK/KPHO/Gray News) – A Phoenix mother is facing murder and child abuse charges after allegedly intentionally performing a “back cracking routine” on her young daughter.

Court documents obtained by AZ Family show that 26-year-old Wanda Jean Johnson was arrested Monday in connection with the death of her three-month-old daughter. She was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of child abuse.

According to police, officers responded to a report of possible child abuse at Phoenix Children's Hospital on March 11. They learned that Johnson had been awakened the morning before arriving at the hospital by her daughter having a seizure in the bed next to her.

Johnson reportedly asked her brother to look for symptoms online and wrapped the baby in a blanket “because she thought her child was cold and then went back to sleep.” According to police, Johnson said the “seizure stopped” and she did not call an ambulance.

The child suffered another seizure, which Johnson's roommate recorded on her phone. Johnson then took her daughter to Banner Estrella Hospital in Phoenix.

While at Banner, the child was found to be in “critical condition” and was flown to Phoenix Children's Hospital, according to documents.

Doctors and medical staff found that the child had, among other things, “a brain hemorrhage and swelling of the brain,” as well as broken ribs and lacerations to her liver. She died on the morning of March 13, the documents say.

During an initial interview with officers, Johnson denied causing the injuries. Later, during a follow-up interview, Johnson admitted that she had performed a “back cracking treatment” on her daughter the day before the seizures began.

Court records show that Johnson spoke to police again on Monday and used a dummy to demonstrate how she “cracks” her child's back. During that interview, police said, she admitted that she had no “chiropractic training” and that she was “probably reckless” in cracking her back.

Arrest documents state that investigators asked her if she was responsible for her daughter's injuries and she replied that it was “possible” but that she had not done anything else to her and “had no intention of hurting her.”

Johnson is being held in a Maricopa County jail and bail is set at $1 million cash.

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