Almost A Year Later.... Confusion Still Surrounds Death Of Child In Chicagoland Day Care Center
A suburban Chicago judge will soon determine how many—if any of the statements made by day care worker, Melissa Calusinki, during a video-recorded police interrogation will be admissible at her upcoming criminal trial.
Calusinki is charged with first-degree murder following the death of a toddler, Benjamin Kingan, at Minee Subee in the Park day care center in 2009. Conflicting statements made during the four-hour interrogation by both Calusinki and the police enforcement officials interrogating her provide little clarity as how the toddler’s fatal head injury occurred.
During some portions of the interrogation, Calusinki claims that the boy’s injury resulted from him throwing himself on the ground, yet in other portions it appears as though Calusinki played more of an active role--- and actually threw the boy to the ground.
As Ms. Calusinki awaits trial, she remains in custody of law enforcement authorities, as she was unable to satisfy the $5 million bond a judge earlier imposed.
In addition to the criminal charges brought against both Calusinki as well as the owner of the day care center, the facility remains closed as ordered by state authorities.
As a lawyer who represents families following injuries to children while at a day care centers, I frequently find myself frustrated by conflicting reports of events. Consequently, I strongly urge families to seek the involvement of law enforcement officials as well as officials from the state who are responsible for regulating these facilities.
While not always the case, the investigative reports from these agencies responsible for regulating day care facilities can be extremely helpful in both providing answers to the family as to how the incident may have occurred as well as valuable in the prosecution of personal injuries in a civil court setting.
Related:
Interrogation recording shaping case in day care center death, by Ruth Fuller, Chicago Tribune, December 8, 2010
Family Settles Day Care Death Lawsuit NBC5.com, March 7, 2010
Day-care center is open after boy's death Chicago Breaking News Center, January 19, 2009
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