3-Year-Old Suffers Serious Trauma, Fractured Skull After Mother Attacks Child With Machete

A woman was arrested after she attacked her three-year-old daughter with a machete. The incident took place at a home in Philadelphia's Olney neighborhood on Sunday.

Police responded to the home after receiving several reports of someone screaming. Upon arrival, the officers found the girl with at least six stab wounds to the head, shoulder and knee and also skull fractures.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said, "She sustained some serious trauma sadly at the hands of her mother- the very individual that's supposed to be here to protect her.”

An unidentified nurse who lived nearby said she applied pressure and checked the victim’s pulse till the officers arrived.

A neighbor said, "She (the nurse) tried to stabilize the baby until two cops rushed her - they wouldn’t even wait for the ambulance it was so bad. They took her in their police car."

The child was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Witnesses said the accused was naked at the top of the stairs and seemed to be incoherent about what she had done.

"She came out with her hands all cut up, asking if she could get a pair of shoes. She was very incoherent. She didn't know what was going on,” a neighbor said.

Another witness said, "All the girl kept saying was 'My mommy tried to cut my hair' that's what the little girl was saying. I don't think she thinks her mother would hurt her. They're very close and it's sad.”

Police said they were waiting for the toxicology results as they suspect the woman was on drugs while she committed the crime. The reason behind the attack was not known.

Meanwhile, residents of the area said this was not the first time police arrived at the home. A few days back, police retrieved machetes from the home after a member of the household assaulted someone.