A disturbing case has unfolded at the Oaks Early Learning Center in Montgomery County where a daycare worker has been charged with inflicting serious injuries on two infants. Catalina Baldwin, 37, of Phoenixville, now faces two counts of aggravated assault, as per a report from NBC Philadelphia.
The initial signs of abuse became apparent on July 9, when a seven-month-old girl at the facility became unresponsive; medics responded and discovered that she had a subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhages, and spinal ligament injuries suggesting non-accidental trauma, Baldwin is also accused in another case from May involving a five-month-old with unexplained bleeding from the mouth triggering a joint investigation by Upper Providence Police and Montgomery County Detectives, Baldwins arrest came after this multi-layered investigation, which included her irresponsible texting about a child prior to the discovery of the injuries, and google searches about "Shaken Syndrome" which the authorities found on her cellphone.
According to FOX 29 News, detectives revealed that on the day of the July incident, the child, who was healthy and alert when dropped off by her parents early in the morning, was under Baldwin's sole care. Baldwin texted the school director at 10:12 a.m. asking for assistance; the director found the infant 'listless' and unable to hold her head up.
The injured infant, who had her skull partially removed to assist with treatment, remains hospitalized and is undergoing rehabilitation to address life-threatening injuries comparable to ones "suffered from a fall from a very high height (ex: such as from a building) or a motor vehicle crash," as reported by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Child Protection Team, according to 6abc Action News.
