Woman 'poisoned daughter through IV lines with NINE infections so she could get attention from baby's father'

A mother is on trial accused of poisoning her baby daughter by manipulating her IV lines - just so she could attention from the girl's father.



Blanca Reneis Montano, 23, from Tucson, Arizona, was charged with attempted murder and child abuse in the 2011 death of her seven-month-old daughter.



Prosecutor Ryan Schmidt told jurors during opening statements on Wednesday that there is evidence the baby contracted multiple bacteria diseases such as E. coli because of Montano contaminating the IV lines.



Mother: Blanca Reneis Montano contaminated her infant daughter's intravenous lines to make her sick because she wanted attention from the girl's father, the court heard

The Arizona Daily Star reports that the girl and her older brother were first taken to the University of Arizona Medical Center on February 23, 2011, to be treated for flu.

Tests showed they both had E. coli and the children were treated and improved.



But the baby girl ended up in critical condition after developing up to nine fungal, bacterial and viral infections, according to court documents.

She had been hospitalized for more than a month and staff could not understand what was making her sick.

They suspected, however, that Montano was doing something to the IV lines so they placed a hidden camera in the room.

After viewing the footage, they called Child Protective Services and said they saw Montano putting IV tubes into the baby's mouth. In another she came out of the bathroom with something up her sleeve which she then tried to put in the IV tubes, it is alleged.



Defense lawyer Paul Skitzki said there's no evidence that Montano intentionally made her daughter ill.



He painted Montano as a devoted mother who stayed at her daughter's bed side and decorated the room with balloons and stuffed animals.

'Sometimes things happen. Sometimes there's no explanation for it,' Skitzki said. He said there is no evidence showing Montano had the equipment or means to contaminate the IV lines.