North Dakota Unlicensed Daycare Owner Charged With Murder in Infant's Death

Due to the death of an infant in her unlicensed daycare in western North Dakota, a 48-year-old woman was charged with murder on Monday.

According to the Associated Press, the Foster County State Attorney's office said Patricia Wick, of Carrington, was also charged with child abuse concerning a second boy at her unlicensed home daycare.

Emergency personnel who responded to a call found the five-month-old boy unresponsive on September 26 at Wick's home. The infant was flown to a hospital in Fargo but died on September 28.

According to the autopsy results, the baby suffered a traumatic head injury and had a cardiac arrest. His death was ruled a homicide.

Court documents showed that Wick admitted to investigators that she may have placed the boy down too hard on a blanket due to frustration with the boy that day.

When the infant began vomiting a few minutes later, she said she called the baby's mother and 911. Wick made her first court appearance, representing herself via video conference Monday, and a bail of $500,000 was set.

What Happened During the Infant's Death?

The baby's name is not listed in any court documents. However, WDAY reported that Reed Nelson was his name.

According to court documents, the North Dakota woman also told investigators that another kid at the daycare woke up after Reed did.

Wick noted that she brought Reed into the living room and placed him on a blanket before placing the other child at a small table in the kitchen.

Court documents noted that Wick called Reed's mother after witnessing him coughing and vomiting.

Wick later admitted that she was not gentle with Reed that day because she was angry with him and may have set him down too hard.

The court documents also said that on September 26 at around 2 p.m., the Carrington Police Department and the Carrington Ambulance responded to a call about an unresponsive baby at 438 Second St. S., and a CPR was performed.

Despite being airlifted to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, the infant still died from his injuries. After the baby's death, Wick was charged with murder, abuse of a child, and operating a family child care home without a license, Grand Forks Herald reported.

Another Kid Injured Under North Dakota Woman's Care

Court records revealed that Wick also told investigators that another child had broken his arm while in her care. Wick said the six-year-old child had fallen off a swing in her backyard two weeks before the infant was injured.

Court documents further noted that the child's mother reported that Wick did not notify her or her husband after the injury.

During the child's pickup, Wick only advised that the child fell off a swing set and faked the level of the injury, In Forum reported. The mother also said that Wick never asked about her boy's well-being after the incident.

Photos from the case show that the daycare's backyard swing set was not secured to the ground and could be lifted while in use.

The Carrington Police Department is currently investigating the incident that caused the infant's death. Court documents said Wick had operated an in-home daycare with more than five children without a license.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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