North Carolina daycare worker who intentionally dropped 11-month-old baby on his head arrested and charged
A daycare worker in Onslow County, North Carolina, has been arrested after an investigation revealed that she had intentionally dropped an infant on his head.
The 23-year-old Bethan Pringle, who hails from Idle Brook Circle in Maple Hill, was arrested on Wednesday, June 19, over the injury of an infant at the Childcare Network Daycare Center in Sneads Ferry, according to a press release by the Onslow County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies from the sheriff's office were first contacted by the daycare center concerning an 11-month-old male child who was in their care on June 10.
The company reported that the child was transported to the Vidant Medical Center earlier in the day regarding a medical emergency and that they later learned that he was, in fact, injured purposefully by a daycare worker there.
The 11-month-old was found to have suffered injuries which stemmed from head trauma which resulted when he was intentionally dropped by Pringle.
They confirmed the incident in a statement which read, "We are heartbroken about this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the child and his family. The safety and well-being of this child and all of the children we serve is our top priority."
Following an internal investigation by the daycare center, the person identified as the culprit was suspended without pay. "We notified the proper authorities and are cooperating fully with the investigation. We will provide additional information as we receive and confirm it," they said.
Col. Christopher Thomas with the OCSO confirmed to the Jacksonville Daily News that the police had similarly opened an investigation of their own into the incident but said he could not go into any further detail.
The sheriff's office concluded their investigation into the matter late last week and arrested Pringle. They have not revealed her motivations behind abusing the 11-month-old victim but said that there was evidence of a history of child abuse at the daycare center and that her actions may not have been an isolated incident.
As for the infant, he was released from the hospital on June 13, and medical professionals have said he will physically recover, but OCSO Sheriff Hans Miller said it could be a long time before they determine the full extent of his injuries.
"Sometimes children make noises – but abuse is unacceptable," he was quoted saying by the Sun. "What happened was terrible. It was wrong."
Pringle was booked into jail after she was charged with felony child abuse causing serious bodily injury in connection to the case. She was set free after posting a $100,00 bond at the Onslow County Detention Center.