Mother Held on Felony Assault, Child on Life Support

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) -- A Mankato mother has been arrested and accused of causing injuries that have left her young child on life support.

A complaint filed in Blue Earth County charges 27-year-old Chelsea Rae Olinger with felony assault.

Authorities say she brought her unresponsive 16-month-old child to the Mankato hospital Monday where surgery was done to relieve bleeding on the brain. The toddler was transferred to a Rochester hospital.

Court documents say the child has rib fractures, two broken vertebrae and a lacerated liver. Olinger told investigators the toddler fell down a flight of stairs.

She was arrested Thursday at the hospital.