Florida Babysitter Arrested for Poisoning 11-Month-Old With Antifreeze, Police Say

OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA — A Florida babysitter is facing attempted murder charges after investigators say she poisoned an 11-month-old boy with antifreeze, leaving him moments from death before doctors revived him in the hospital.

Anna M. Adamo, 59, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and adulterating food or drink, according to the Okeechobee City Police Department. The child, who could not yet crawl, walk, or feed himself, was hospitalized in critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Infant Nearly Died After Drinking Contaminated Milk

The incident happened around February 12 at Adamo’s home in Okeechobee, about 70 miles northwest of Palm Beach. Police said the baby’s grandmother picked him up around 3:25 p.m. and noticed he appeared unusually sleepy and lethargic.

After returning home, the child began vomiting a sticky, clear substance that his mother described as abnormal in smell and texture. Alarmed, she rushed him to the HCA Raulerson Medical Center, where doctors soon transferred him to HCA Lawnwood Medical Center in Fort Pierce, and later to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami.

At one point, the baby went into cardiac arrest and required 10 minutes of CPR before being revived, according to police.

“The child was placed on life support and listed in critical condition,” investigators said. “He was within minutes of death.”

Tests Revealed Antifreeze Poisoning

After several tests came back negative, a doctor ordered an oxalate crystal test, which revealed the presence of ethylene glycol — a toxic chemical found in antifreeze. Further testing ruled out genetic disorders, confirming the baby had been poisoned.

Police say Adamo was the only adult with access to the child that day. The mother told investigators she had provided Adamo with two bottles of breast milk and some solid food, but Adamo later texted that she fed the boy a one-ounce bottle that the mother had not supplied — raising suspicions.

“The child had to have been poisoned on the same day, likely within one to two hours of showing symptoms,” said Dr. Bruce Goldberger, a forensic toxicologist consulted by police.

Babysitter’s Story Contradicted by Evidence

When questioned, Adamo denied harming the baby and claimed no one else entered her home that day. She told detectives her husband, who works at an auto parts store, did not return home for lunch — but surveillance footage later proved he did.

Investigators found two bottles of antifreeze in the home, one of which was opened and missing about 2½ cups of fluid. Forensic analysis suggested that was the source of the poisoning.

Police also uncovered a disturbing history: Adamo had previously been accused of poisoning another child with antifreeze in 2014, though no charges were filed at that time.

“The defendant stated she had never been suspected of poisoning a child,” investigators wrote, despite the earlier report.

Arrest and Ongoing Investigation

Adamo was arrested in Georgia on October 3 as a fugitive from justice and extradited to Florida to face charges. She was released on bond earlier this week but remains under investigation as authorities assess the child’s long-term medical condition.

Police confirmed the baby has been released from the hospital, but the extent of his injuries remains unknown.

“This case is one of deliberate cruelty,” the department said in a statement. “The child’s survival is nothing short of a miracle.”

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