Woman killed baby because he wouldn’t nap at her daycare, cops say
Sep. 4 2021, Published 9:21 a.m. ET
A baby died after an alleged assault at a daycare and a woman told police the incident happened because the child wouldn’t take a nap, according to the Watertown Public Opinion.
Aound 3 p.m. July 14, police and medics responded to a call of an unconscious but breathing child at Amanda Walder’s unlicensed daycare in the 200 block of 15th Street Northwest in Watertown, South Dakota, the Watertown Public Opinion reported.
Liam Koistinen later died from trauma to the base of his skull that resulted in a brain bleed and swelling, according to the Watertown Public Opinion.
The child’s family shared an autopsy report that listed the cause of death as traumatic brain injury caused by assault from a caregiver, the Watertown Public Opinion reported.
Liam was taken to daycare at 10:30 a.m. on July 14, according to the Watertown Public Opinion.
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Walder admitted the child was being difficult in laying down for a nap, the Watertown Public Opinion reported. Walder said she was being firm with the child, but admitted she could have unintentionally harmed him, according to paperwork obtained by the Watertown Public Opinion.
According to court documents, doctors at the hospital found a brain bleed, which can result from a child being shaken, the Watertown Public Opinion reported.
Walder, 30, was taken into custody at the Codington County Detention Center on Sept. 2, according to Watertown Public Opinion.
She was indicted by a grand jury on one count of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree manslaughter and aggravated battery of an infant.
Walder’s lawyer requested that the judge consider lowering her $100,000 bond since she had no prior offenses and has proven she is not a flight risk, the Watertown Public Opinion reported.
He also argued that Walder is the mother of two young children — a preschooler and a second-grader — and that child protective services has allowed her to provide supervised care to the kids, according to Watertown Public Opinion.
The judge declined to change the bond amount.
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