Police: Woman faked baby torture

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Police in St. Petersburg, Fla., said they arrested a woman who told them text messages and photos indicating she was torturing her baby were a joke.

Investigators said Donald Callaway, 21, called 911 Wednesday and said his ex-girlfriend, Brittany Lester, 20, was sending him pictures and messages implying she was torturing their 1-month-old son, the St. Petersburg Times reported Friday.

Messages said Lester was going to "squeeze him until he's gasping for air," "urinate in a bottle and feed it to him" and "put him in the dresser and slam it," investigators said. She also made several references to the baby dying, they said.

The photos Lester sent Callaway showed her appearing to choke the child, placing a plastic bag over his head, placing him upside-down in a trash can and lying down with a cellphone charger in his mouth, police said.

Officers said they found Lester in her motel room with the infant unharmed.

Lester, who told police the pictures and text messages were meant as a joke, was arrested on a charge of aggravated child abuse.