Girl, 10, Charged as Adult in Death of 6-Month-Old Baby at Wisconsin Day Care

The unnamed girl was at her foster parents’ home in Tilden when she allegedly dropped the baby boy and panicked.

A 10-year-old girl has been charged as an adult in the death of a 6-month-old baby she allegedly killed at a Wisconsin home day care run by her foster parents.

The unnamed girl was at her foster parents’ home in Tilden when she allegedly dropped the baby boy on Oct. 30, Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell said in court Monday.

The child hit his head and began crying, at which point the girl started panicking, Newell said. 

“She panicked, didn’t know what to do and didn’t want to get into trouble,” Newell said at the girl’s bond hearing, KSTP-TV reported. It was then that prosecutors said the girl caused intentional fatal head trauma to the baby.

“The child hit its head on the footstool and then the child started crying and she panicked and didn’t know what to do and didn’t want to get into trouble and then she proceeded to stomp on the 6-month-old’s head,” Newell said, according to WEAU-TV

The boy was rushed to a hospital, but was unable to be saved. After two days in the hospital, he was pronounced dead on Nov. 1. 

The little girl allegedly confessed to hurting the boy and her shoes, as well as the footstool the boy hit his head on, were taken into evidence, officials said. She was charged as an adult with first-degree homicide with intent, a felony. Wisconsin state law dictates anyone 10 years old or older accused of felony first-degree homicide must see their case first brought in adult court.

“By statute, a 10-year-old or older is required to at least start out the process in adult court, and that’s why we’re here today,” the judge said to the court.

The little girl reportedly sobbed in her biological mother’s arms as the case was described. She had been removed from the custody of her biological parents in September, according to reports. It is likely that the case will be referred to juvenile court. 

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