A Washington mother allegedly filmed herself dancing to upbeat music on TikTok in a hospital bathroom while her two-month-old son lay dying from severe head trauma prosecutors say she and the father inflicted through violent shaking and jerking motions.
Story Snapshot
- Alyssa Jade Vanderbeck, 19, recorded TikTok dance video while infant fought for life at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
- Both parents charged with second-degree murder after baby died from brain bleeding, eye hemorrhages, and fractured ribs
- Father admitted to violently jerking infant during crying episodes, saying “Why you crying boy?”
- Parents delayed calling 911 for approximately one hour, contacting friends and family first
- Prosecutors explicitly ruled out SIDS, declaring case “ongoing abuse of a vulnerable infant”
Parents Charged After Infant’s Traumatic Death
Alyssa Jade Vanderbeck and Mark Anthony Labaco Clamor face second-degree murder charges following the March 9 death of their seven-week-old son at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Lakewood, Washington. Prosecutors charged Vanderbeck with criminal mistreatment and Clamor with second-degree assault of a child. Both parents remain held in Pierce County Jail on $1 million bond each after their March 12 arraignment. Medical examinations revealed the infant suffered brain and eye bleeding along with multiple fractured ribs, injuries physicians determined were consistent with abusive head trauma from violent shaking or blunt force impact, not sudden infant death syndrome.
Disturbing Social Media Activity During Crisis
Investigators discovered Vanderbeck filmed herself dancing to upbeat music in the hospital bathroom while her critically injured son received intensive care treatment between March 4 and his death five days later. The TikTok video, reviewed by law enforcement during their investigation, showcased behavior prosecutors and officers described as “unusual” given the gravity of the infant’s life-threatening condition. This callous social media activity occurred as the baby fought for survival in the pediatric intensive care unit. The focus on creating entertaining content during such a tragic moment reveals a disturbing disconnect from parental responsibility that should alarm anyone who values protecting innocent life and basic human decency.
Mom filmed TikTok dance in hospital room while baby was dying from 'abusive head trauma' https://t.co/1MeA7g2EkZ pic.twitter.com/tuQmgasR3B
— New York Post (@nypost) March 16, 2026
Father Admits to Violent Handling of Infant
Clamor admitted to investigators he picked up the fussy infant in a “jerking motion” while asking “Why you crying boy?” before jerking the baby backward with force. Both parents acknowledged they shook the infant to “stimulate” him when he became distressed during feeding times. These admissions directly contradict any claims of accidental injury and align precisely with medical findings of abusive head trauma. The couple’s own statements provided prosecutors with crucial evidence demonstrating intentional rough handling of a defenseless newborn whose weak neck muscles and disproportionately large head made him especially vulnerable to severe brain injury from such violent movements.
Delayed Emergency Response Raises Red Flags
After noticing their infant exhibiting unusual behavior on March 4, the parents waited approximately one hour before calling 911, instead prioritizing phone calls to friends and family members. This delay in seeking emergency medical care for a critically injured baby raises serious questions about their priorities and understanding of parental duties. Emergency responders rushed the non-breathing infant to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, where physicians immediately recognized signs of non-accidental trauma. A social worker later reported suspected abuse to authorities, triggering the investigation that uncovered the parents’ admissions and the disturbing TikTok footage. This pattern of delayed care followed by casual social media activity demonstrates a fundamental failure to protect vulnerable life.
Prosecutors Emphasize Ongoing Pattern of Abuse
Pierce County prosecutors issued a clear statement rejecting any suggestion the death resulted from natural causes: “This is not a case of SIDS. This was ongoing abuse of a vulnerable infant.” Medical evidence supported this assertion through documented injuries including brain bleeding, retinal hemorrhages, and multiple rib fractures in various stages of healing, indicating repeated trauma over time rather than a single incident. The combination of physical evidence, parental admissions, delayed emergency response, and inappropriate social media behavior during the crisis painted a comprehensive picture of neglect and abuse. These parents had a fundamental duty to protect their helpless child, yet allegedly chose violence and social media vanity over the most basic parental responsibility of keeping an infant safe from harm.
