Louisiana – A Louisiana woman was taken into custody and later charged with first-degree murder after she reportedly killed a 3-month-old child while taking care of the baby for just several hours. The 40-year-old woman, ShirIey, was arrested earlier this week and is being held on $2.5 million bond, court records say. The victim’s mom, who is from California, moved to Louisiana to take care of her mother and was supposed to return to California with her baby this month.
The fatal incident occurred on January 22, but the defendant was formally charged this week, prosecutors said. According to the victim’s mom, Simone, she left her baby with the defendant for just several hours. The 40-year-old woman was left with the child for three hours before the mother returned and found her child unresponsive.
The investigation process began after the mother rushed the 3-month-old baby, Kayro, to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The baby was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The medical examiner told investigators that the baby suffered severe injuries consistent with trauma and an assault. Authorities say the baby suffered a severe brain bleed and multiple skuIIn fractures, which are believed to be consistent with trauma.
The victim’s mom told investigators that she left her baby with the 40-year-old woman after asking her to watch the child. According to the mother, when she returned to the defendant’s home, she initially thought that her baby was sleeping. Shortly after, the mother realized that the baby wasn’t breathing and rushed him to the hospital for treatment.
The 40-year-old caretaker was taken into custody and later charged with first-degree murder. The victim’s mom told local news outlet WSFA that ‘the woman smiled in her face and killed her baby behind her back’.