The life-threatening injuries inflicted on an 18-month-old Austin baby could only have been caused by a blow at the magnitude of being kicked in the stomach, according to court documents.

Mower County Human Services is petitioning to terminate the parental rights of the baby’s mother, 21-year-old Heang Kim Sean, of Austin.

According to the petition, which was filed Wednesday in Mower County District Court, the baby has experienced egregious harm while in the mother’s care. Sean’s daughter was taken to St. Marys Hospital in mid-August after suffering from “suspicious injuries,” including bruising to the chest, abdomen, legs, knees, inner thighs and groin area. A CT scan revealed liver lacerations, possible spleen damage, pancreatic trauma, possible bowel damage and internal bleeding, according to court documents.

The baby had emergency surgery on Sept. 16 to remove a six- to eight-inch section of her small intestine. She is still recovering at St. Marys Hospital, court documents state.

“(This is) the type of injury that potentially could be caused in a severe auto accident and thrown around inside the car,” Dr. Daniel Broughton of St. Marys Hospital said in the petition. “Otherwise, the injuries would have to be the result of a severe blow at the magnitude of being kicked in the stomach or being punched or hit with a blunt object extremely forcefully ….

“Only an adult would be able to generate the type of force required to cause this severe type of damage.”

Mower County Sheriff’s Detective Steve Sandvik has interviewed Sean, along with her boyfriend and her daughter’s daycare provider. According to the petition, the interviews have shown Sean cannot explain the injuries to her baby, although she is blaming the daycare provider.

“The mother attempted to direct the investigation of medical personnel and became very angry when hospital staff began to document other injuries,” the petition states. “The mother has exhibited anger issues in the past.”

The petition goes on to say Sean, who is expecting another baby, was the only person present at the time the injuries were inflicted. The document states Sean is untruthful and has continually changed her account of events while being interviewed by law enforcement.

Sean’s daughter reportedly sustained three fractures — left tibia, left radius and left ulna — in June, but the child protective matter was dismissed in court because a determination could not be made regarding the source of the fractures. However, Sean has since admitted to causing the fractures while she was playing with the baby, according to the petition.

Sheriff Terese Amazi said Wednesday that an investigation is still underway.