A 23-year-old mother, Tajahnae Brown, is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly making her 4-year-old daughter sick by administering unnecessary medication. Brown has been charged with murder, attempted manslaughter, assault, and acting in a manner injurious to a child. The arrest has shocked family members, who describe Brown as a loving and devoted mother. However, detectives disagree with this assessment.
On May 2, the child was rushed to the hospital where she was treated for toxicity and being overly medicated. Doctors determined that the child’s blood had been poisoned due to the excessive medications. Despite the child’s condition, Brown was caught administering more medication while her daughter was receiving treatment at Montefiore hospital.
Prosecutors obtained an order of protection for the child to prevent Brown from giving her any further medication. This order has deeply affected Brown, who had been visiting her daughter daily in the hospital. Relatives claim that the child had previously experienced seizures as an infant, but it is unclear why doctors continued to prescribe medication if there was no medical need.
Investigators suspect that Brown may be suffering from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a condition where a caregiver fabricates or induces symptoms in a child to gain attention or sympathy. The child has been placed in the care of another family member by the city’s child welfare agency.
Brown’s arraignment is pending, and her daughter continues to express a desire to be reunited with her mother.
