Babysitter applied makeup to 1-year-old to hide ‘severe’ abuse, Florida cops say

A strange instance of a toddler wearing makeup led a Florida family to discover their babysitter’s “horrific” abuse, according to investigators.

The child, just 13 months old, had injuries ranging from broken bones to burns, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said in an April 14 news release. Citrus County is about a 75-mile drive north from Tampa.

Details of the case were made public Friday, April 11, when Karina Fortune, 32, pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse during a pretrial detention hearing, the sheriff’s office said.

The investigation began March 22, when detectives were alerted to the injuries.

“The child’s grandmother informed detectives that she had left the infant in the care of a friend, later identified as Fortune, earlier that week. Upon the child’s return, the grandmother noticed that the infant’s face and body were covered in makeup, initially leading her to believe the child was not her grandchild,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Further investigation revealed the makeup had been applied in an attempt to conceal severe physical injuries, and it was her grandchild.”

The child was taken to a doctor, revealing “horrific abuse, including extensive bruising, burn marks, a broken arm, a fractured collarbone, and severe dehydration,” the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators say Fortune gave them “unreasonable explanations and provable lies” when questioned about how the injuries occurred.

She eventually “admitted to stepping on the child’s body, feeding the child scalding-hot formula, and concealing the injuries out of fear they would be discovered,” officials said.

Fortune was sentenced to 25 years in state prison on April 11, the sheriff’s office said.

“It’s great to hear that the victim is now in a safe, loving environment and recovering,” Special Victims Detective Levi Garrison said in the release.

“The timeline ... outlines a series of events that show the escalation of the abuse and the defendant’s attempt to evade responsibility.”

This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 7:26 AM with the headline "Babysitter applied makeup to 1-year-old to hide ‘severe’ abuse, Florida cops say."