Baby sitter suspected in tot’s injuries

EVERETT — The toddler has a broken jaw and arm, fractured ribs and a serious head injury. The 1-year-old boy has made slight improvement since he was found unconscious but doctors don’t know if he’ll fully recover.

Police believe his baby sitter is responsible for the damage.

Detectives on Monday arrested an Everett man, 31, for investigation of first-degree assault of a child. He is expected to make an appearance today in Everett District Court.

“It’s very serious in terms of abuse. We don’t know the prognosis of the child,” Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said. “The child is very seriously injured.”

Police were alerted to the boy’s grave condition on Sept. 13. A friend of the boy’s parents had agreed to baby-sit the child and his 3-year-old sister while the children’s parents were at work, Goetz said. The man had watched the children at least three other times.

Police were called later that day when the friend’s wife returned to their Holly Drive apartment and found the boy unconscious, Goetz said. She also told 911 dispatchers it appeared the boy’s arm was broken.

Everett firefighters raced to the apartment.

Holly Ives, who lives in the apartment complex, saw the paramedics load the unresponsive child into an ambulance.

“They ran into an apartment and I saw them carry a child out in their arms,” Ives said. “He seemed really lethargic. I just thought it was bad.”

The man told firefighters that the child had fallen down some stairs outside the apartment, according to police. He also told firefighters he had been running up the same stairs with the child under his arm when he tripped and fell, causing the boy to tumble down the stairs.

Doctors at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle detected a serious head injury and determined that the boy’s jaw, arm and ribs were broken. They also found bruises in multiple stages of healing, Goetz said.

The injuries are not believed to be accidental, he said.

The boy’s parents, who don’t live in the complex, told police that they’d noticed bruises on their son after he had been at the man’s apartment, Goetz said. They questioned the baby sitter about the bruises.

“He had an explanation for all of them. He told them the child had fallen on a toy. He also said he had fallen on a glider chair and the other kids were playing roughly with the 1-year-old,” Goetz said. “I don’t think the parents knew how serious the injuries were.”

Police suspect that the boy’s jaw was broken that day, Goetz said. It’s unclear when the other injuries happened, he said.

The boy was moved out of Harborview to an assisted-­living facility.

Jennifer Whitfield wiped away tears when she learned about the boy’s condition on Monday. She and her family live in the building. Detectives were there last week and asked if the family had heard or seen anything that day.

“I just mentioned to my husband this morning I wish I knew how he was doing,” Whitfield said. “I’d walk through fire for my children. I can’t imagine how his parents are feeling. I’ve been praying for him. We’ll keep praying for him.”

Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

State Attorney General Nick Brown's office posted a release announcing $720 million in nationwide settlements with eight drugmakers that manufactured opioid pills and worsened the nationwide opioid crisis. The state could receive more than $16 million, the release said. (Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard)
Snohomish County to receive portion of latest $16M opioid settlement

While the amount of money is still unknown, funding plans are already in place to help with drug abuse prevention, treatment and education.

District 2 candidates differ in public safety approach

Incumbent Paula Rhyne is facing challenger Ryan Crowther. The third candidate, Jonathan Shapiro, is no longer seeking the seat.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

From left to right, Edmonds City Council Position 3 candidates Joseph Ademofe, Alex Newman and Erika Barnett.
Amid budget crisis, Edmonds City Council candidates talk revenue, affordability

Three newcomers are facing off for Position 3 on the council, currently held by council President Neil Tibbott.

Everett
Everett approves new fines for non-emergency lifts

The fire department will only issue fines for non-emergency lift assists at licensed care facilities, not for individuals at home calling 911.

Guns for sale at Caso’s Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/New Jersey Monitor)
After suing, WA gets carveout from Trump administration plan to return gun conversion devices

The Trump administration has agreed to not distribute devices that turn semi-automatic… Continue reading

The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility about 16 miles east of Ellensburg in central Washington is part of Puget Sound Energy’s clean energy portfolio. (Courtesy of Puget Sound Energy)
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Washington households could see electricity costs increase $115 per year by 2029; 21,800 workers could lose their jobs by 2030, analysts say.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.