A daycare worker in North Carolina was criminally charged Wednesday for allegedly dropping an 11-month-old boy on his head weeks earlier in an act that authorities ultimately determined was intentional.
Citing Onslow County police, The Daily News reports that Bethan Pringle, 23, was charged with felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury for a June 10 incident at the Childcare Network daycare center in Sneads Ferry which. Police reportedly got involved after the company conducted an internal investigation and contacted authorities.
The infant was reportedly hospitalized for head trauma and released three days after the incident. Police Colonel Chris Thomas told the news outlet that the boy is expected to make a full recovery.
Sheriff Hans Miller told WITN that evidence suggests that the infant had been abused before. He also revealed that they’re determining whether there’s enough evidence to charge a second person in this case.
“Sometimes children make noises, but abuse is unacceptable,” Miller told the news station. “What happened was terrible, it was wrong.”
Pringle remains jailed on $100,000 bond. Childcare Network said in a statement obtained by The Daily News that Pringle has been suspended without pay following an extensive investigation.
“We are heartbroken about this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the child and his family,” the company said. “The safety and well-being of this child and all of the children we serve is our top priority. Our management immediately began an internal investigation… We notified the proper authorities and are cooperating fully with the investigation. We will provide additional information as we receive and confirm it.”
[Featured image: Bethan Pringle/Onslow County Sheriff’s Office]
