Teen babysitters arrested after two children in their care hospitalized with bruises, cigarette burns
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA: Two teen babysitters tasked with the job of looking after two small children were detained by the police after a 2-year-old boy arrived at a Minnesota hospital with a skull fracture and bruises, and cigarette burn marks all over his body. Diego Ramon Calzada-Russette and Jamie Rae Wilson, both 19, were arrested on September 22 and September 25, respectively. While Russette is charged with malicious punishment of a child, Wilson has been charged with two counts of felony child torture.
Paramedics responded to a call for a boy who had fallen down the stairs at a St Paul residence on September 22, 2022. The boy was rushed to the hospital, where a medical team found bruises all over his body and what appeared to be cigarette burns. The child was transferred to pediatric intensive care where he was diagnosed with a fractured skull and old and new brain bleeds. Wilson, who rode in the ambulance with the boy, told police that she had been watching the injured child for a few days at the request of the boy's mother. Wilson initially claimed the boy already had various injuries and markings on his body before he was in her care.
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Police also learned that along with the boy, a 5-year-old girl was also left to be watched by Wilson. However, neither Wilson nor Russette mentioned the girl even though the latter stayed with her. The girl was also taken to the hospital for evaluation and allegedly had "injuries on nearly every part of her body," according to the People. The authorities further claimed that her body had cigarette burn marks and was badly bruised. The girl also unfortunately suffered damage to her internal organs.
"A doctor at MCRC told the investigator that this is the worst case of abuse he has seen in over 20 years," the complaint read, according to Fox9 News. It is not clear whether both babysitters are related to the children and for how long they were under their care. Calzada-Russette was booked into Ramsey County Jail Thursday afternoon, according to the outlet. According to reports, Russette and Wilson are a couple.
Besides, Wilson also said that she was the one who called 911 and informed about the incident before going to the hospital with the boy, while Russette stayed behind to watch the other children before heading to work. Initially, Russette denied the allegations of child abuse but later when cops interrogated him, he allegedly told the police that Wilson hurt the children "because they didn't listen". He claimed he was not the one who burned them but said Wilson was responsible for it, adding that she threatened to leave him if he reported the abuse. He also added that Wilson told the kids to lie and accuse him if they were asked about their injuries.
Calzada-Russette and Wilson have been arrested and booked into Ramsey County Jail. Russette made his first court on Monday, September 26, and is set to make another on September 28. Wilson also made her first court appearance on Monday and will make an appearance for a hearing on October 18, 2022, as per reports.