Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog
Police in Norwood are searching for woman they say is a suspect in a Massachusetts child abuse case involving an infant. The 4-month-baby sustained a damaged rib, a fractured skull, and three broken vertebrae from the alleged incident. Now, law enforcement offices have put out a warrant of arrest for the baby’s babysitter, Sueli Soares. She is charged with assault and battery causing substantial injury to a child.
The 34-year-old woman was babysitting the baby on December 30 when she contacted 911. Soares told them that the baby started choking while she was feeding him and then fell unconscious. Doctors who examined the baby say they believe he was abused and that his injuries are signs that he may have been shaken violently.
Police say that after the alleged incident, Soares and her husband disappeared. They believe she might be an illegal immigrant. Soares had been working as the boy’s babysitter since November.
In an unrelated incident, Quincy police have issued their arrest warrant for babysitter Rabab Ghazal. The 39-year-old woman is accused of shaking another 4-month-old boy so violently on December 23 that he was hospitalized. The baby is still unconscious and in the ICU. Authorities interviewed Ghazal and the baby’s relatives. The latter were cleared of any wrongdoing.
Shaken Baby Syndrome
The act of violently shaking a baby can cause serious injury to the infant. Traumatic brain injury and head trauma are two of the injuries that can result. According to the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, some 1,400 babies are injured or killed every year because their were shaken vigorously by a parent or another caregiver.
Child abuse is considered a very serious criminal offense in Massachusetts. Anyone arrested or charged with child abuse is entitled to legal representation by an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
Police seek caregivers accused of injuries, Boston.com, January 15, 2009
Norwood police seek babysitter in child abuse case, Boston Herald, January 14, 2009
Related Web Resource:
Massachusetts Law About Child Abuse and Neglect, Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries
Contact Altman & Altman LLP today.
