JINAN - A woman from eastern province of Shandong killed herself after being suspected of sticking needles into her 11-month-old niece, local authorities said Saturday.

The suspect, Liu, killed herself on Friday afternoon, a few days after a dozen needles were found in her niece's body, said the publicity department of Gaotang County, Shandong.

The baby has been taken to a Beijing hospital for treatment, and further investigation is underway.

The case has sent waves of condemnation across the Internet.

Earlier this year, Zhang Qihui, a woman from central China's Hubei Province, was detained on suspicion of chopping off the ears of her six-year-old nephew.