The baby was in the care of her babysitter, 26-year-old Michelle Lee, of Tooele, on Nov. 8, when the injuries were suffered, causing the baby to lose consciousness.
Lee, who lives on Broadway in Tooele, called 911. When police and paramedics arrived, she reportedly told them the baby had fallen down the stairs.
The victim was transported by air to the Salt Lake City hospital, where she remains in the ICU.
Detective James May described the home where the baby was being cared for as "immaculate." Lee reportedly cares for a number of children, but according to Tooele City Recorder Lisa Carpenter, she does not have a day care, or babysitting license. The city requires anyone who tends more than four, but less than seven children as a source of income to be licensed -- a $40 annual fee.
Based on evidence gathered during the police investigation, and with information from physicians on the baby's injuries, which were not consistent with a fall, Lee was brought in for questioning Friday, Nov. 16.
According to Wimmer, Lee told investigators she had shaken the baby.
"Never shake a crying baby," said Amy Wicks, information specialist for the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Between 1,200 and 1,400 cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome are reported every year, she said.
Shaking a crying baby may result in severe injuries such as blindness, seizures, coma and even death. About 25 percent of all shaken baby cases result in death.
Nationwide informational campaigns on the dangers for shaking a baby provide new parents with information on the syndrome before they leave the hospital. Licensed child care providers are also given information on SBS. More information on SBS is available online at http://www.dontshake.org
sashe@tooeletranscript.com
Post a Comment
