Who Is Jessica Bortle? Florida Mother Accused Of Murder

Jessica Bortle is a 34 year old woman from Pensacola, Florida, accused of killing her 14-year-old daughter Jasmine Singletary in a hospital bed.

Jessica Bortle Arrested For Murder. “Police say an investigation determined that Bortle caused the fatal injuries to her daughter. The arrest report states doctors said the injuries were “similar to those found on traffic crash victims.” It adds that the injuries happened through “blunt force trauma.” [CBS]

Jasmine Singletary Stopped Breathing. “According to the Pensacola Police Department, Jasmine Singletary is a special needs patient with a neuromuscular disorder and was taken to the hospital on July 8 for an infection. A few days later on July 13, Jasmine unexpectedly lost consciousness and stopped breathing after her mother, 34-year-old Jessica Bortle, and grandmother had been in the room.” [WECT]

Report: Child’s Liver Was Ripped Open. “When questioned by law enforcement, Bortle admitted she slammed a hospital table into Jasmine’s abdomen out of anger after the child broke and threw coloring crayons in her hospital room, according to her arrest report. Bortle told authorities that after slamming the table, she leaned her weight on it, which is what crushed the child’s liver.” [Pensacola News Journal]

Hospital: Death Is “Unimaginable Tragedy.” “Ascension Sacred Heart released this statement Tuesday morning regarding the incident: ‘The loss of Jasmine was an unimaginable tragedy for those who loved her and it was heart-breaking for the nurses and doctors in our Children’s Hospital who cared for her. We send our deepest sympathies and our prayers for her family and all who knew her.'” [NBC]