A Hoffman Estates woman is accused of injuring an infant she was babysitting, causing permanent brain damage to the child.
Delfina Bautista was looking after her neighbor’s infant daughter — as well as her own three children — on Friday when prosecutors said she began violently shaking the 5-month-old baby because she wouldn’t stop crying, according to Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Caitlin Casey.
Bautista then left to pick up her boyfriend, leaving the infant in the care of her 7-year-old daughter, the prosector said.
“When the defendant returned home with her boyfriend, the victim was barely conscious and showed difficulty breathing,” Casey said.
The infant’s mother picked her up about 11 p.m. and thought she was sleeping, but a short time later a relative also noticed the child was having trouble breathing, Casey said. They called Bautista, who drove the mother and child to a nearby hospital.
Doctors determined the child suffered a non-accidental “catastrophic event leading to neurological devastation,” Casey said. The girl remained in critical condition as of Wednesday, and doctors have indicated she’s expected to have severe and permanent disabilities if she survives, the prosecutor said.
During questioning by police, Bautista eventually admitted to shaking the child violently and trying to blame it on her own daughter, Casey said. Bautista had earlier that day sent a text to the infant’s mother saying she would not be able to babysit anymore because she was worried that her daughter “was becoming too aggressive,” Casey said.
Bautista, 30, has been charged with aggravated battery to a child, authorities said. Bond for Bautista, who is expecting another child, was set at $500,000 on Wednesday, officials said.
George Houde is a freelance reporter.
