Baby near death

[howela]

A-19-day-old baby, allegedly injured when her mother threw her across the room when she wouldn't quit crying, died this afternoon at a Shreveport hospital.

Christine Martorana died at 3:28 p.m. while on a ventilator at Sutton Children's Hospital, Bossier Parish sheriff's deputies said.

The mother, 19-year-old Michelle Martorana of Princeton, is jailed on charges of battery and cruelty to a juvenile. An autopsy will be done before a decision is made on upgrading charges. The possible charges include first-degree murder.

Bossier sheriff's deputies said Martorana threw her baby across the room at her mobile home this past weekend when the baby wouldn't quit crying. The baby bounced off a bed and landed on her head, suffering a fractured skull, deputies said.

Deputies said Martorana called 911 on Saturday and said her baby had choked on formula. The baby had no heartbeat and was not breathing when medics arrived, deputies said.