Monday 30 August 2010

SBS: Maryland, day care provider guilty of second-degree murder

EASTON, Md.- A jury found a former Trappe, Md., day care provider guilty of second-degree murder, child abuse with a death, and second-degree assault in the death of a 9-month-old infant Friday afternoon, the Talbot County State's Attorney's office announced.
Gail Dobson, 53, was charged last October after investigators concluded that 9-month-old Trevor Ulrich died of injuries caused while under her care.
Prosecutors in October charged Dobson with manslaughter, first-degree child abuse resulting in death, two counts each of second-degree child abuse, reckless endangerment, first- and second-degree assault and one count of first-degree child abuse causing severe injury.
Dobson is being held without bond pending sentencing, but no sentencing hearing has been set, the state's attorney's office said Friday.
Trevor Ulrich, of Dorchester County, was pronounced dead at Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Sept. 3. Police say autopsy results revealed the child died of inflicted head trauma, which is an injury associated with shaken baby syndrome.
According to police, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, a 911 call was received from Dobson, a licensed day care provider. She requested an ambulance to respond to her Trappe home. Police say Dobson reported that baby Trevor was having trouble breathing.
Shortly after the call, paramedics from the Trappe Volunteer Fire Department arrived to find the child in full cardiac arrest. The child was transported to Easton Memorial Hospital and later flown to Children's Hospital in Washington for further treatment.
At approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, state police investigators from the Easton Barracks received a phone call from the Dorchester Department of Social Services regarding a possible child abuse case. The Department of Social Services was notified by personnel from Children's Hospital that the child had died there.
Police began an investigation into the circumstances that led to the baby's death. Police say investigators conducted scores of interviews and learned that Dobson cared for other children besides Trevor. According to investigators, information received revealed Dobson was Ulrich's day care provider for two days.
Police say the results from the investigation and medical evidence revealed that Trevor's injuries were sustained during the days he was in Dobson's custody.
An autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Washington, D.C. ruled the infant's death a homicide. According to police, the cause of death was inflicted head trauma, which medical evidence reveals as an injury consistently found with shaken baby syndrome.

http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp?S=13020203

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