A New York woman suspected of sickening her 4-year-old son by injecting something into his hospital feeding tube pleaded guilty under a deal with prosecutors to child endangering in Cincinnati.
Jessica Valik's son was treated at Cincinnati Children's Hospital for a rare disease that causes skin to blister.
Prosecutors alleged that Valik, 26, of Syracuse, added Benadryl to the boy's feeding tube last fall, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
Hospital staff became suspicious when the boy suffered severe diarrhea without an apparent medical reason, authorities said. The boy had to undergo several diaper changes, which were painful because of his skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa, they said.
Valik's attorney, Massimino Ionna, declined to comment about her motives after Valik pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single misdemeanor count, the newspaper reported.
Prosecutors dropped a felony assault charge under the deal. Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor Jocelyn Chess said Children's Hospital officials agreed with the plea as there were "complications" in proceeding with the case.
"We believe this would be the best way to resolve this case," Chess said.
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Valik could face up to six months in jail when she's sentenced March 28.
