AN INDIANA babysitter allegedly held a baby’s face against a running treadmill and put a lighter to the baby’s body, all because she was depressed following an argument with her ex-boyfriend.
Amber Vannatter, 20, is charged with three counts of battery and three counts of neglect of a dependent after she reportedly admitted to Muncie, Indiana police she inflicted burns on the baby she was charged with sitting.
The baby’s mother rushed her daughter to Ball Memorial Hospital on Aug. 14 after Vannatter dropped the little girl off at her mother’s workplace, saying the tot was bleeding from the mouth.
Police were called to the hospital to investigate possible child abuse and spoke with the baby’s mother, who said Vannatter had been caring for her child at her home while she went to work.
The mother, a friend of Vannatter, found her baby daughter had a broken wrist in addition to mouth injuries and several burns surrounding the injuries. The baby also had multiple large abrasions on her face, torso and legs.
Officers later interviewed Vannatter about the baby’s injuries and court records show Vannatter told officers several stories to account for how the baby received her injuries.
After continued questioning from police, however, Vannatter allegedly told police she was feeling depressed because she and her ex-boyfriend had gotten into an argument.
When her friend’s daughter began crying, Vannatter reportedly said she turned on the treadmill in the home and held the baby’s face against the moving belt.
She then allegedly held a lighter to the baby’s arms and neck, causing multiple burns. When she placed the baby on a table, the baby winced in pain and fell to the ground, hurting her mouth, according to police documents.
Vannatter later allegedly told police she burned the child on two different occasions. She denied allegations of hitting or striking the girl, however.
Hospital staff said the baby would likely have scarring from the injuries.
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