SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah, Nov. 30, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Summit County Sheriff officials were dispatched to Primary Children’s Hospital Wednesday after an infant boy was found to have brain trauma consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
His night nanny was arrested late Friday afternoon for investigation of alleged aggravated child abuse, intentionally or knowingly, classified as a second-degree felony.
“I was dispatched to Primary Children’s Hospital, where I was informed that a six-week-old child had been admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for brain injuries that were ruled by physicians to be ‘non-accidental trauma,'” says an affidavit filed in the arrest of Lindsay Johnson, 32, who had moved to Utah three weeks ago.
“It was discovered that in the 24-hour period leading up to the child being taken to the hospital, the child had only been in the custody of three individuals: his mother, his father, and a night nanny.”
The infant’s parents told investigators he had been healthy and seemed normal at 10 p.m. Tuesday, when they relinquished the baby to the night nanny. When they saw the baby the next morning, “the child was not responding appropriately and was found to be experiencing seizures, prompting them to take the child to a doctor, where it was discovered, the child had internal head trauma.”
Johnson and the baby’s parents confirmed he was in Johnson’s custody in the window of time where his condition changed, the affidavit says.
On Friday, Summit County Sheriff officials learned X-rays showed the infant had a broken rib, “which the physicians described as common in juvenile patients who suffer from shaken baby syndrome,” the statement says. The physicians had ruled out any blood disorders that could present as similar systems and believe the trauma to be inertia generated.
Johnson had moved to Utah on Nov. 3 or 4, the court documents say.
“It is believed that if Ms. Johnson is released on bail, she will flee to Vermont. With Ms. Johnson’s current certifications in her professional field, she is able to work anywhere in the country.”
Johnson was ordered held without bail.
