Inset: Emily Duran (Allen County Jail). Background: The 100 block of West Superior Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Duran allegedly slapped an infant, causing a brain bleed (Google Maps).
In a disturbing incident in Indiana, a babysitter allegedly inflicted “serious injuries” on an infant by striking the child with the same force one might use on an adult, according to local authorities.
Emily Duran, aged 27, has been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and battery on a child under 14 by an adult resulting in serious bodily harm, as reported by the Fort Wayne Police Department.
Police were alerted to the situation when they responded to a local hospital on December 11, following reports of an infant suffering from severe injuries, the department disclosed.
The incident is believed to have taken place earlier that day in the 100 block of West Superior Street, according to the police.
Based on details from a probable cause affidavit obtained by Fort Wayne’s ABC affiliate WPTA, the child’s parents had entrusted their 7-month-old son to the babysitter’s care shortly before 7 a.m.
At that time, the infant was reportedly in good health. However, upon returning home around 5 p.m., the parents noticed that Duran had left abruptly. They then discovered “deep purple bruising” on their baby’s face, stretching from his jawline to his hairline, as detailed in the affidavit.
Duran later texted one of the parents to say the boy had fallen earlier in the day. They then recorded a phone call with Duran who claimed they were at the park when the boy fell off a bench.
The couple took the baby to the hospital where doctors determined he was suffering from a brain bleed, according to the affidavit.
Medical experts reportedly later said there was “no explanation other than child abuse,” the charging document says. The child’s injuries were “inflicted” and could not have been an accident, according to the affidavit.
Police located Duran late last week and took her in for an interview.
After being read her Miranda rights, Duran reportedly admitted to slapping the boy on one side of his face and backhanding him on the other side. The defendant allegedly said she “slapped him as hard as you would slap an adult.”
Duran was then and taken to the Allen County Jail where she has since posted bond. Her next court hearing is set for Jan. 12.
