Police say mother nearly beat son to death

A mother was arrested Tuesday after police say she nearly beat her 3-year-old son to death.

Gabrielle Alyse Bankston, 24, is charged with infliction or allowing infliction of great bodily injury upon a child. Her bail was set today at $250,000. She’s being held in the Charleston County jail.

According to an affidavit from Charleston police, Bankston is accused of beating her son June 22 in an apartment on Juniper Street. The boy was taken to St. Francis Hospital the next day with a 4-centimeter liver laceration, fluid or blood in his pelvic area and significant bruising. The hospital staff called police, according to the incident report. The boy was transferred to Medical University Hospital because of the severity of his injuries, and the Department of Social Services was notified.

A doctor said the injuries could have been caused only by physical abuse, according to the affidavit. Bankston told police she was the only one who had been with the boy. Two doctors told police the boy could have died from his injuries, according to the affidavit.