A 27-year-old baby sitter suspected of causing the death of a 19-month-old Connecticut boy she was taking care of has been charged with manslaughter and is being held on $1 million bond.
Kinjal Patel allegedly told police that she became angry with the child then forced him to the floor, where he hit his head.It happened at Patel's home on Middletown Avenue in New Haven, according to police.
Police responded to a risk of injury complaint at the Yale–New Haven Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department at 9:26 p.m. on January 16.
The little boy’s skull was severely fractured, police said. Doctors told police that as the boy, Athiyan Sivakumar, was rushed to surgery his injuries were life-threatening.
Police said officers responded to the child's home on Weybosset Street and secured it as the potential crime scene.
The baby died Sunday from his injuries. The Office of the State’s Chief Medical Examiner determined that the child’s death was homicide caused by blunt force.
On Wednesday, Jan. 22, detectives interviewed Kinjal Patel, of Middletown Avenue in New Haven.
She admitted she was baby sitting for the young child on Jan. 16 and became angry with the child, police said.
She said she forced the child to the floor and he hit his head, then started to cry and convulse, according to a news release from police.
Patel told officers she called the child’s father to tell him his child was injured. He came home then took his son to the hospital.
Patel has been arrested and charged with manslaughter in the first degree and risk of injury to a child.
Photo Credit: New Haven Police
