Stefanie Reichert, the boy’s mother, said that the suspect was a friend of hers and regularly watched her son along with others at an unlicensed childcare facility at her home.
A Colorado woman has been arrested on felony child abuse charges after a 2-year-old boy was seriously injured while under her care.
25-year-old McKinley Slone Hernandez was arrested during Thanksgiving by Lakewood Police after a warrant was issued for her arrest the following day, according to Fox 31.
Stefanie Reichert, the boy’s mother, said that the suspect was a friend of hers and regularly watched her son along with others at an unlicensed childcare facility at her home.
The mother said Hernandez agreed to watch her son overnight on Sept. 1. Reichert received a text message that event stating that something had happened to her son.
“I received a text message from the suspect saying I needed to rush to St. Anthony’s Hospital because my son had gone lifeless after a bath,” Reichert told the outlet. “Once I saw him and all the 50 doctors standing around him, I had to leave the room because it was the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“She won’t admit to anything,” Reichert said. “All she’s said is she was drinking, and he got hurt in her care.”
2-year-old Giovanni suffered blunt force trauma injuries to his head and body, and has been slowly recovering since then. Reichert said she still doesn’t know exactly what happened that evening.
“I make up scenarios in my head all the time for the injuries he sustained, so I wish I knew,” Reichert said.
Reichert said she was relieved that Hernandez was arrested, but added that she doesn’t think the charge is enough.
“I feel so relieved, but I also feel like she should be charged with more. I feel like it’s attempted murder, she almost killed my child,” she said.
A GoFundMe set up for the family has raised $25,015 (at the time of publication) for medical and other emergency expenses.
Giovanni suffered a brain bleed that required surgery and part of the child’s skull to be removed.
An update posted on Monday revealed that the young boy needs a shunt placed, after which the family may be able to finally return home.
"We had a rough thanksgiving this year to say the least! Giovanni had his surgery to replace his home flap yesterday. Today he had a fever and was uncomfortable and in pain. He’s pretty swollen and his right eye is swollen shut. He slept most of the day and I’m hoping for a better day tomorrow," Reichert wrote in a Thanksgiving update.
"We ended thanksgiving with the best thing possible, A WARRENT ISSUED FOR THE SUSPECT. She is wanted on a $100,000 bond for felony child abuse."
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