Major update on infant bashed in Alice Springs home invasion

The baby’s father has given a crucial update on her health after she was left with brutal injuries in December.

A baby girl who was left with a fractured skull and brain bleed in a brazen daylight home invasion is expected to make ‘a great recovery’, according to her father, Marlon Siguenza.

Two-month-old Antonia was cradled in her mother Nicole Siguenza’s arms on December 11, when a two youths allegedly broken into the family home on Bokhara Street in Larapinta, Alice Springs.

One of the teenagers allegedly threatened Ms Siguenza with a metal weapon before proceeding to strike both mother and baby.

The pair were flown to Adelaide Women and Children’s Hospital in critical condition, but have since been discharged.

After their arrival back in Alice Springs, Antonia’s father said she is “doing a whole lot better,” according to an NT News report.

While he said the tot had been suffering seizures as a result of the attack, none had occurred in a few days, with the doting father describing her as “a little fighter”, ABC reports.

Baby Antonia was brutally bashed in the daylight home invasion. Picture: Supplied

“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 added that while the prognosis is positive, baby Antonia is “not in the clear just yet, but she is definitely taking steps forward, one at a time.”

After the attack, the local community banded together to plan a series of fundraisers to help support the Siguenza family, including a bake sale, GoFundMe campaign and luxury prize auction.

Mr Siguenza said that the response was overwhelming.

“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,” he said.

Nicole and Marlon Siguenza. Picture: Supplied

“[The fundraiser] was something started by the local mums in our community that just wanted to jump on board and help and it’s exploded.”

The offenders who spearheaded the attack, aged 16 and 17, were both apprehended within an hour and half of the alleged home invasion.

They have both been charged with five offences including unlawfully causing serious harm, aggravated assault and robbery, theft and aggravated burglary.

NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro described the incident as “totally unacceptable”.

“It is far from normal. People deserve to be safe in their homes,” she said.

“I’d like to acknowledge also that there are a lot of very angry people in this town who feel frustrated, scared, hurt by what has taken place over recent weeks and they deserve to be angry.”

Ms Finocchiaro said a fugitive task force, 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.