PALISADES PARK, N.J. (WCBS 880) — A New Jersey baby died after being treated for constipation with magnesium and her mom, along with another woman, were arrested for administering it, officials said.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, the incident happened in Palisades Park when Emma Medina took her 11-month-old daughter, Genesis Catalan-Medina, to Elida Ofelia Medina-Ramos’ house on Dec. 7 because the baby was feeling sick.
Medina-Ramos told investigators “she massaged (the baby’s) stomach and treated her with a liquid substance via oral syringe, which she stated would possibly alleviate constipation,” the affidavit stated.
The substance was made up of magnesium, olive oil and water, Medina-Ramos later told police.
Soon after administering the mixture, the baby started having convulsions and Medina-Ramos told her mother to call 911, according to the affidavit.
Medina told responding authorities she thought her daughter was choking, the documents said.
The infant was transported to Hackensack University Hospital where she was pronounced dead, the affidavit read.
Medina-Ramos told officers she was not licensed to practice medicine in the U.S. and a detective allegedly observed her removing medical supplies, vitamins and medicines from her house, including multiple syringes and “raw liver.”
The Guatemalan citizen said something like this has never happened in all her years treating children and she had previously treated Medina’s older son when he was younger, according to NJ 101.5.
Baby Genesis’ death was ruled a homicide and a toxicology report found the child had high levels of magnesium in her body.
On Monday, Medina-Ramos was arrested on charges of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, unauthorized practice of medicine and child endangerment, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said. She is awaiting a court hearing at the Bergen County Jail.
The mother was also arrested Monday on a child endangerment charge and released, prosecutors said.
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