Baby tragically dies after daycare worker drinks 10 beers before work; woman arrested for neglect
A woman from Iowa City has been arrested and is now facing charges nearly six months after a baby at her in-home daycare died. Reports state that the incident occurred after the woman drank nearly 10 to 11 beers before working.
According to court records, the 49-year-old woman, Wendy D. Young drank at least 10 beers on October 18, last year before opening her daycare. Reports state that Young used to take care of children ranging from seven months old in age to three years old at her home.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reported that police officials found a seven-month-old infant in an unresponsive state after police officials came to Young's home later that day. She had reportedly began watching the children from 6:30 am that day.
The child was then immediately rushed to the hospital where they pronounced the infant dead.
Young was then arrested on charges of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person. This is a class C felony charge and carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years. She also admitted to the authorities that she had consumed 10 or more drinks on the day of the incident.
Jail records state that the woman is currently being held at the Johnson County Jail and her bond has been set at $10,000.
According to court documents, alcohol was detected in Young's system even after eight hours since she began taking care of the children on that particular day in October.
One of her neighbors, Rebecca Painton, reportedly told the Gazette that Young had run the daycare out of her home for at least 14 years, and no such incident had occurred until last year.
State records reportedly do not show the woman to be a registered or a licensed operator. The incident could trigger further inspections of such institutions.
The providers, however, who take care of five or fewer children are not required to be registered or licensed, according to reports.