There has been a major update on the condition of a baby whose skull was fractured during a violent home invasion in Alice Springs.
Nicole Siguenza was home with her five children and holding her two-month-old daughter, Antonia, on Wednesday December 11 when two teenagers allegedly broke into her house on Bokhara St in Alice Springs.
It’s understood one of the teenagers searched the house while another threatened the woman with a metal object before striking her and the newborn, fracturing the baby’s skull.
Baby Antonia suffered a fractured skull following a horrific home invasion in Alice Springs on December 11. Picture: Supplied
The baby was rushed to Alice Springs Hospital with a fractured skull and brain bleed before being flown down to Adelaide for further medical treatment.
The teenagers involved in the alleged home invasion, aged 16 and 17, were apprehended by NT Police a short time later, with one placed under arrest and the other allegedly fleeing in a car.
Following a short vehicle pursuit with police, the second teenager was arrested.
Both have been charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, unlawfully cause serious harm, aggravated assault and theft.
Over the weekend, Antonia’s dad Marlon Siguenza flew to Adelaide to be with his wife and young daughter while their four children remain back in Alice Springs.
A week on from the horrific home invasion, Mr Siguenza shared a heartwarming update on the infant, whom he called a “little fighter”.
“The fracture itself that she received on the skull has gone in a couple of directions but the neurosurgeon is confident that over time she’ll make a great recovery because of her size and how young she is,” he said per the ABC.
Mr Siguenza added his daughter had been suffering seizures as a result of the fracture, though they hadn’t returned since Friday.
“(On Sunday) she smiled, reacted to sounds — it was wonderful to see,” he said.
While she’s “doing better”, there is still a long road to recovery for the two-month-old.
“She’s not in the clear just yet, but she is definitely taking steps forward, one at a time,” Mr Siguenza added.
Following the home invasion, a GoFundMe campaign was set up to support the family. It has since raised more than $50,000, more than doubling its initial $20,000 goal.
Over the weekend, a bake sale was held in Alice Springs to raise further funds for the family.
“The Titanic couldn’t even hold the amount of tears we’ve cried out of love, out of frustration, out of humility and the support that people have given to us,” Mr Siguenza said.
Despite the attack, Mr Siguenza said he and his family had no intentions of moving anywhere else.
“It’s a beautiful place, it really is like no other,” he said.
“But it’s the people that make it; our unfortunate situation is a testament to that.”
Nicole and Marlon Siguenza, whose daughter was injured during the home invasion, said their two-month-old was on the mend. Picture: Supplied
The attack comes after a crime wave began in early December, with a string of violence, home invasions, stolen cars and sexual assaults reported in Alice Springs and its surrounds.
NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said the escalating violence had moved away from the inner city and into the suburbs, resulting in mounting pressure for more police presence.
“We’ve met with the team this morning and given really clear instructions about repurpose as well as the operational response of four or five police cars, night police cars, calling and responding to calls for public assistance,” he said.
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro acknowledged Alice Springs residents felt “hurt, fear and anger” amid the crime spree and said the community “have a right to feel safe in their homes”.
Ms Finocchiaro also recognised the system had “let them down for a very long time”.
“The recent tragic events highlight the dire consequences of years of policy failure,” she said.
“The high level of violent offending is not acceptable and takes a huge toll on our community and emergency responders.”
Ms Finocchiaro said a fugitive taskforce, dubbed Operation Ludlow, would be expanded into Alice Springs, splitting the region into five sectors, including four urban sectors and one rural, and targeting people with outstanding warrants, and high-risk repeat offenders.
“This means Operation Ludlow will be divided into intensive patrols in those sectors and supported by additional police to give highly visible, high-engagement policing,” she said.