A Naugatuck mother accused of swinging her baby daughter by the feet after snorting Ritalin appeared in court on Friday and has been placed on mental health and suicide watch.
Police rushed to South Main Street in Naugatuck, Conn. around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday after receiving several 911 calls and found Aurora Houghtaling swinging the 1-year-old girl like a baseball bat, according to authorities.
Police immediately tried to take the child from Houghtaling, but she resisted, police said.
The 39-year-old mother appeared to be on drugs and was making irrational comments like "the governor is in my phone," according to police. The officers were able to rescue the girl and took Houghtaling into custody.
During their investigation, police found Houghtaling with Ritalin and she admitted to officers that she had snorted it, authorities said.
Houghtaling was taken to Hartford Hospital to be evaluated and was charged with risk of injury to a minor, interfering with a police officer and use of drug paraphernalia. She appeared in Waterbury Superior Court on Friday.
Bond was set at $500 for failure to appear, $100,000 for risk of injury.
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The 1-year-old girl was taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center as a precaution. The baby was alright and is now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families, police said.
A protective order was put in place for the daughter and Houghtaling was ordered to cooperate with DCF.
She is due in court next on Nov. 5.
