Sitter loses license after 7-month-old in care dies

1/9/2013

NORTH ADAMS, Mich. - A state agency has suspended the home day-care license of a local woman who was caring for a 7-month-old baby who died as a result of shaken baby syndrome.

The Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services has ordered Carrie Adams to stop operating a day care for children from her West Main Street home or from any other location.

The state's order also requires Ms. Adams to inform all parents of the children she cared for that her license has been suspended.

A reason cited for the suspension is that Ms. Adams was licensed to have six children in her home, ages infant to 14. But state officials said she allegedly violated her license by caring for eight children under the age of 4.

That violation was discovered during a Jan. 8 investigation of the home, authorities said.

Hillsdale County Prosecutor Neal Brady said yesterday that no charges have been filed in connection with the suspicious death of Trey Bowman of Jonesville, Mich. The baby died Jan. 8 in Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor after being transported from the Hillsdale hospital four days earlier.

An autopsy conducted in Washtenaw County showed the infant died from injuries associated with shaken baby syndrome. He was taken to the Hillsdale Community Health Center from Ms. Adams's home, authorities said.

Mr. Brady said he is reviewing reports from the Michigan State Police before he will make any decisions in the case.

“I think that some people rush to judgment when the term shaken baby syndrome is used,” Mr. Brady said. “I think it implies somebody shook the baby. We have to find that out.”

He said Ms. Adams allegedly has told investigators that she shook the baby because he was choking. She also was caring for Trey's two older brothers at the time.

The prosecutor said he was not aware of any previous complaints about Ms. Adams's operation. She could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The baby's father, Dan Bowman, declined to comment.

The state's department of consumer and industry services said Ms. Adams had been registered to operate a family day care at home since Aug. 10, 2000.

The agency will hold an administrative hearing on its suspension of Ms. Adams's license.