A Huntsville woman accused of beating her 57-day-old son, causing multiple broken bones, will go before a grand jury on a charge of aggravated child abuse.

Jessica Debbie Rhinehart (Madison County jail)

District Judge Linda Coats found probable cause in the case against 26-year-old Jessica Debbie Rhinehart, who was in court Wednesday morning for a preliminary hearing. Rhinehart was arrested March 16 after bringing her newborn son to Huntsville Hospital, complaining that the baby was fussy and had swelling on his leg.

Doctors at the hospital found that the baby had hemorrhaging in both eyes, a bruised nose and fractures in both legs, his wrist and his ribs. Huntsville Police Investigator William McDonald testified at Wednesday's hearing that the baby had also been brought to the hospital three weeks prior to the March 16 visit.

At that time, he was found to have a broken arm, McDonald said.

Rhinehart sat biting her fingernails Wednesday as the injuries to her son, referred to in court by the initials "O.R.," were detailed for the court.

McDonald told prosecutor Jason Scully-Clemons that, when questioned about her son's injuries, Rhinehart told him that the boy suffered from an illness that made his bones brittle. Doctors at the hospital found no sign of the alleged disease, however.

Rhinehart's own father told investigators that he'd brought the infant for testing at the University of Alabama in Birmingham to determine if he had a genetic condition that could explain the broken bones, but that no abnormalities were found, McDonald said.

The investigator said that both Rhinehart and her husband, John Rhinehart, said they were the only people caring for the infant, with the exception of a family member watching their son on Valentine's Day. When the boy's father was told the details of his son's injuries, he broke down in tears.

"Poor little guy. I can't believe he went through this," McDonald quoted John Rhinehart saying.

Jessica Rhinehart showed no emotion during questioning, the investigator said. Her demeanor and the fact that she spent the most time caring for the baby were factors that led to her arrest.

Chad Morgan, the attorney representing Rhinehart, got McDonald to admit that typically, when a child is beaten, it leaves bruises or other marks on the body. When asked if he noticed any outward signs of a beating, the investigator said he didn't examine the infant closely.

Morgan questioned why no one at the hospital had concerns of abuse when the baby showed up with a broken arm during his first trip to the ER at about a month old. The defense attorney also sought to show that there are multiple diseases that can produce broken bones in children who are not being abused.

One of those diseases is a genetic condition called osteogenesis imperfecta, otherwise known as brittle bone disease.

Rhinehart faces between two and 20 years in prison if convicted of the abuse charge. She is out of jail on $20,000 bond.

Morgan has filed a motion asking the judge to remove the conditions of the bond, specifically the order to not have contact with her son. The boy is in the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

Rhinehart is seeking visitation while she awaits a grand jury decision. Coats said she would rule on the motion at a later date.