An Indiana babysitter is facing serious charges after authorities say a 7-month-old boy was violently struck while in her care.
According to the Fort Wayne Police Department and court records obtained by local outlet WPTA, officers were called to a Fort Wayne hospital on Dec. 11 after the Department of Children’s Services reported that an infant had sustained “serious injuries.”
The baby’s parents told investigators they left their son with 27-year-old Emily Duran at about 6:50 a.m. that day. When they returned home shortly after 5 p.m., they said Duran left quickly. One parent then noticed bruising on the baby’s face, according to the court documents cited by WPTA.
Duran later texted one of the parents, saying the child had fallen, the documents state.
The parents then called Duran and recorded the conversation, authorities said. During the call, she allegedly claimed the baby fell off a bench while they were at a park, according to WPTA.
Police later reviewed photos of the infant and noted “deep purple bruising” on both sides of his face, stretching from his jaw to his hairline, according to the court documents.
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At the hospital, one trauma surgeon told police the child had a brain bleed. Another doctor said the baby’s injuries were “inflicted” and “non-accidental.”
“There is no explanation other than child abuse,” the doctor told police, per WPTA.
Police interviewed Duran on Dec. 19. During that interview, she allegedly admitted to slapping the baby across the face and then backhanding him across the other side, WPTA reported, citing court records.
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Duran allegedly said she “slapped him as hard as you would slap an adult.” She was arrested that same day and taken to the Allen County Jail.
Court records show she has been charged with felony neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury to a person under 14 years old. She is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 12.
