OKEECHOBEE – A third child poisoning case with a connection to babysitter Anna Adamo has Okeechobee residents wondering if more children might have been at risk.

 Adamo, 59, was arrested on Oct. 11 following a lengthy investigation into the poisoning of an 11-month-old baby. She was charged with attempted murder, aggravated child abuse and poisoning with the intent to injure or kill. Bond was set at $600,000. She was released on bond on Oct. 14.

According to the Okeechobee City Police Department report, the 11-month-old baby was dropped off with babysitter Adamo at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 12, 2025. The child appeared to be in good health at the time.  When the baby’s grandmother picked the baby up at 3:30 p.m., the child appeared tired and lethargic. The child continued to sleep as he was moved from one car seat to another (into the mother’s car). Soon after the mother began driving, the baby began vomiting. She took him to the emergency room. He was transferred to Lawnwood Medical Center and admitted to the ICU. He was later transferred to Niclaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. The child tested positive for Crystal Oxilate. Doctors explained there are two possibilities for this substance to be in the body: A genetic disorder or anti-freeze poisoning. Genetic testing ruled out a genetic disorder.

In a similar case in 2014, Adamo was accused of poisoning a six-month old baby who was in her care.

As in the 2025 case, the baby was reportedly in good health when the child arrived at the babysitter’s home. The baby was lethargic and sleepy when picked up by a family member and rushed to the emergency room, then transferred to another hospital.

The baby tested positive for Crystal Oxilate. Testing ruled out a genetic disorder.

In the 2014 case, the doctor who treated the baby notified Department of Children and Families (DCF) and law enforcement in West Palm Beach (where the baby had been hospitalized). There is no record of arrest in Palm Beach County. Assistant State Attorney Ashley Albright said the case was never brought to his office in Okeechobee County.

Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office records link Adamo to third incident involving a child in her care.

On June 1, 2023, between midnight and 1 a.m. Deputy K. Garcia was called to the Raulerson Hospital Emergency Room about a drug overdose. A two-month-old baby was brought to the ER by his parents. The baby tested positive for opioids and was given two doses of Narcan. The infant was airlifted to Lawnwood.

According to the OCSO report, the child had spent the previous day in the home of babysitter Anna Adamo. The mother picked up the child and stopped by a friend’s business. Later that evening, the parents became concerned because the baby was lethargic and did not want to eat. The mother called the pediatrician who directed them to take the child to the ER.

Detective Sgt. Matthew Hurst interviewed the parents. The mother said the baby appeared to be happy when she picked him up and took at bottle at 6 p.m. She said he would not wake up to eat at 9 p.m.

Hurst also interviewed Adamo. She said none of the other children who had been at her home were ill. The report indicates the detective found the home to be clean and well-organized.

The detective interviewed the friend and inspected the business the baby had visited.

The parents took a drug screening at the hospital and had no opiates in their systems. The baby bottle and formula container tested negative for opiates.

“Based on all interviews and evidence collected, I could not discover where the source of the opiate originated from or how the child came into contact with it. I advised all person involved to clean any possible area or items in case of cross contamination. No other persons suffered any similar reactions. (The mother) advised the child was released from the hospital and has made a full recovery,” the detective stated in his report. The case was closed.