Baby sitter admits to causing injuries

POST FALLS - A 3-year-old Post Falls boy was in critical condition on Wednesday after his 25-year-old female baby sitter confessed to police that she caused his head injuries.

The boy was air-lifted from Kootenai Medical Center to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane after suffering a fractured skull when his head hit the ground from being shoved by the baby sitter, Post Falls police Capt. Greg McLean said.

"The child urinated on himself and her, and that's when she became frustrated and angry and shoved him," McLean said.

Police are not releasing the Post Falls female's name because she hasn't been charged or arrested.

"We're holding off on charges, pending the outcome of the child," McLean said. "We don't believe she's an additional threat to society."

Possible charges range from felony injury to a child to murder, depending on the outcome.

"That's a decision the prosecutor will make," McLean said.

McLean said the female has known the family for about two years and has baby-sat for them for "at least several months." She does not have a criminal history.

McLean said the only other person at the home at the time was another toddler.

The female showed remorse over the incident.

"She advised she did it out of frustration and anger," McLean said.

Officers responded to the home in the 500 block of North Elm Road at 4:30 p.m. on Monday after the baby sitter told police the child was breathing but unresponsive.

When officers arrived on scene, they were told by the baby sitter that she was attempting to remove urine soaked clothes from the boy when he became "limp" and unresponsive. He was transported to KMC.

"Initially, it was believed that the child might have ingested something that caused him to slip into his unresponsive state," McLean said. "Officers were later advised that a CT scan revealed that the child had a bleeding skull fracture."

Medical personnel believed the injury was suspicious, McLean said. The child was flown to Sacred Heart, where he underwent emergency surgery.

Detectives responded and, as a result of the investigation, the baby sitter admitted to injuring the child.

An investigation continues.