DETROIT (TCD) — A 30-year-old babysitter faces charges in connection with the death of her friend’s 3-year-old daughter, who died of blunt force trauma injuries this month.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, on March 17, Iesha Harris was babysitting her friend’s toddler, identified by WJBK-TV as Harmoni Henderson, at a home in the 15700 block of Southfield Freeway. At around 1:30 p.m. that day, prosecutors allege Harris fatally assaulted the girl, who was reportedly autistic and nonverbal.
According to WJBK, the victim’s parents claim Harris allegedly locked Henderson and her own 1-year-old child in a bedroom for a few hours so that she could smoke marijuana with a friend.
Harris reportedly got upset with the victim because she threw up on herself, WJBK reports. Harris then allegedly threw boiling-hot water on the toddler’s face and head, and then she slammed her head into the side of the bathtub.
According to WJBK, the victim’s mother said she called Harris to check in on her daughter, and Harris claimed Henderson fell down the stairs and hurt herself.
Henderson’s mother returned home the next morning to allegedly find her daughter deceased in a bed. The child reportedly died overnight, but Harris never called 911, WJBK reports.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the child was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead. Investigators determined the victim died of blunt force trauma injuries allegedly caused by Harris.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged the suspect with felony murder and first-degree child abuse. On March 20, Harris was arraigned and sent to jail.
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