04-18-2012, 12:39 PM
Tampa Bay Times
CLEARWATER -- A Clearwater woman who believed her infant son was possessed by demons was charged Tuesday with child abuse after police said she attempted to throw the 3-month-old into Clearwater Harbor.
The scene unfolded about 1:45 p.m. at an apartment rented by Lydia Chako, 39, of 1209 N Osceola Ave.
The property manager, noticing the unit was flooded, entered and found Chako inside throwing items. Chako told the manager that she believed lizards and snakes were on the child and that she was "keeping the demons out."
Chako left the apartment, carrying the baby by his feet.
The property manager called police, who found a half-naked Chako a block away, standing on a seawall at the dead end of Palm Bluff Street.
Authorities distracted Chako, grabbed the infant away, then arrested the woman after a brief struggle.
Neither the baby nor Chako were injured. The child is now in the custody of the state Department of Children and Families.