Aunt Pushes 3-year-old Boy Into Lake Michigan, Refuses To Help As He Sank

A 3-year-old boy was left severely injured after he was shoved into Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois, by his aunt.

The boy is "not likely" to survive, Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said at a bond hearing Wednesday.

Victoria Moreno, 34, was arrested following the incident at Navy Pier and charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery of a child under the age of 13.

The incident occurred when Moreno and the toddler were by the edge of the water near the pier around 1 p.m. Monday, Chicago police said. The woman did did nothing to help the child and initially claimed she didn't know him, according to WTTW.

"Not once during any of these events did the defendant scream for help, call for help, ask for help or try herself to help," Scaduto said during Moreno's bond hearing.

The boy floated on his back, vomited twice, and sank several feet below the surface. He was in the water for about 30 minutes before divers with the Chicago Fire Department pulled him out, Scaduto said.

The toddler suffered multiple seizures and cardiac arrest episodes and was rushed to the hospital.

When questioned at the scene, Moreno, who takes mental health medication, told cops she did not know the boy and claimed she just saw him fall into the water.

About a week before this incident, the woman had brought her two nieces aged 2 and 11 to Navy Pier without permission. The children did not suffer any harm as the older niece contacted her relatives.

Family members noticed Monday that the 3-year-old boy was missing from the house he stays in with his mother, grandmother, cousins and aunts. They noticed Moreno was also missing along with the family's truck.

Scaduto said Moreno drove the child to Navy Pier and bought him a McDonald's Happy Meal before walking towards the edge of the water.

Surveillance footage reportedly captured Moreno using both hands to push the child into the lake.

"She had no care or concern for the safety of her 3-year-old nephew," Scaduto added, "and she allowed him to be endangered multiple times."

Witnesses in the area said they tried to intervene and said Moreno was acting strange when the boy was in the water.

"She really was not active in any of the rescue help," witness Ashton King told NBC Chicago. "Essentially as soon as we got there, she kind of backed away."

Moreno was arrested Monday and was denied bond at the Wednesday hearing. She is due to appear in court on Sept. 30.

The boy's "massive injuries" include a swollen brain and bleeding in his lungs, Scaduto said.

Family members were with the child at the hospital as he remained in critical condition Wednesday.

"The situation is bad, but it could have been worse, so we have a praying chance that he makes it through, and that's all we are hoping for at this point," Dan Brown, the child's grandfather told ABC 7 Chicago.

Moreno's charges could be upgraded if the boy passes away.