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Written by: E. George
Published August 7, 2023 @ 4:55 PM ET
HALL COUNTY, Ga. – On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, Gainesville Police announced the arrest of a 23-year-old Gainesville woman five months after she allegedly strangled an infant nearly to death. The babysitter is accused of suffocating a one-year-old child in her care at a Springview Drive residence in February 2023.
Upon seeing the injuries, the family transported the infant to a children’s hospital. They reported that the baby has since healed and recovered. The case was referred to the Gainesville Police Department by the Division of Family and Children’s Services, and a months-long investigation ensued.
Gainesville Police spokesperson Lieutenant Kevin Holbrook stated, “It is believed that this child received suffocation and/or strangulation, which did cause some very serious injuries to the child. It is unthinkable. Many times in cases like this, we have to subpoena medical records, we have to conduct follow-up investigations. It’s one of those where we knew that the child was receiving the care that it needed and it was no longer in jeopardy of being injured, so we were able to take some time on the investigation. Once investigators determined they had enough evidence and information, they charged Chosewood immediately.”
The Gainesville Police Department posted a photograph of the suspect with the following message:
“Police have charged a Gainesville babysitter with felony assault after child hurt, nearly killed. Abby Elizabeth Chosewood, 23, of Gainesville, Georgia, has been charged with felony cruelty to children and felony aggravated assault. In February 2023, Chosewood allegedly suffocated and/or strangled a one-year-old child causing bodily harm. Chosewood is being held in the Hall County Jail.”
Since no video footage of the assault exists, authorities are still investigating the reasons for the attack.
Holbrook said, “There is nothing for us to go on as to exactly why this did happen. This is something that we may never know. The child obviously is too young to tell us the truth, but obviously, Chosewood knows what exactly happened, and hopefully, it will come out in court.”
Chosewood was released from jail on bond on Monday, July 31, 2023, three days after her arrest. This investigation is active.
Holbrook expressed, “There is the possibility of further charges. As always, anyone that has had any contact with Chosewood or has had Chosewood as a caregiver, if you’ve noticed anything or seen anything, please contact the Gainesville Police Department.”
A past arrest warrant revealed Chosewood shopped online using a woman’s debit card in April 2021 and received a sentence of two years probation, which she is currently serving. Court records indicated she pleaded guilty to two counts of financial transaction card fraud and one count of financial transaction card theft in Bulloch County in September 2022.
Her public Facebook page lists her as a 2022 graduate of Georgia Southern University.