Revealed: ‘Baby Jessica’ McClure ‘grabbed husband by throat and scratched him until he bled’ during late-night fight at home
The woman once known as ‘Baby Jessica’ after surviving a dramatic well rescue as a child has been accused of choking her husband during a late-night altercation, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.
An affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail claims Jessica McClure Morales wrapped her hands around Danny Morales’s throat and ‘accidentally’ scratched him, causing him to bleed.
When he pushed her off, she tumbled over their infant grandson, the document adds.
While the alleged victim is not named in the filing, it indicates that it is her husband.
McClure Morales was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury with family violence after an incident at her home in Midland, Texas, around 10pm on Saturday.
Reached by phone, Danny Morales was tight-lipped about the fracas with his once world-famous wife.
Asked how he is doing and what led to the physical confrontation, he told the Daily Mail: ‘Does it matter?
‘She got arrested. Does it matter?’
Jessica McClure Morales – better known as ‘Baby Jessica’ was arrested for a domestic violence incident at her home in Texas
Now 40, McClure Morales is a married mother and grandmother, pictured with her husband Danny Morales and her two grandchildren
The 40-year-old mother first captured the nation’s heart 39 years ago, when at 18 months old, she fell 22 feet down an eight-inch-wide well in her aunt’s backyard – prompting a highly publicized rescue.
And she was abruptly thrust back into the spotlight on Tuesday when Midland County Sheriff’s Department revealed she had been arrested for assault.
An affidavit of probable cause obtained by the Daily Mail accuses McClure Morales of ‘intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury’ to a male family member ‘by placing her hands around his neck and scratching him.’
Midland County Sheriff Deputy Autumn Lavender said on arriving at the couple’s Midland home, she spoke with McClure Morales ‘who stated she was in a verbal altercation with her husband.’
‘Jessica stated [Danny] was in her face and she accidentally scratched him when she pushed him away,’ Lavender wrote.
Witnesses, whose names are also redacted from the document, told responding deputies that McClure Morales ‘used two hands and wrapped them around [Danny’s] throat,’ Lavender wrote.
‘[Redacted] stated [Danny] pushed Jessica off him causing her to trip on their grandson.’
McClure Morales is listed in property records as living with husband Danny, 52, whom she married in 2005. They have two children, Simon, 19, and Sheyenne, 16.
She was arrested around 10pm on Saturday at her home in Midland, Texas
McClure Morales got trapped in a 25-foot well in her aunt’s backyard in 1987. Her rescue operation lasted 58 hours and gripped the United States. It was broadcast live on the three major networks
Their son, Simon, gave his parents address as part of a January 2026 court case.
Chelsea Taylor, Simon’s partner, was present during the altercation, according to the affidavit, which did not name her.
Taylor, 20 and Simon welcomed a son, Nolan, in November 2024.
An unnamed figure told deputies McClure and her husband – ‘were having a conversation that turned into an argument.’
‘[Redacted] stated [redacted] advised them not to fight in front of the child and said, “F*** That”.’
Jessica used two hands and placed them around his throat, Lavender wrote.
‘[Redacted] stated Jessica applied pressure and scratched him, but he could not breathe.’
Revealing Jessica’s husband did not want to press criminal charges, Lavender went on: ‘[Danny] stated it did not cause him physical pain, but she did break the skin on his neck, causing him to bleed.’
McClure Morales was arrested due to her living in the same household as her alleged victim and the alleged injury to their neck, the deputy continued.