CHAMPLIN, Minn. — A Champlin woman has been charged after a 6-month-old was put into a medically induced coma due to injuries allegedly suffered while in the woman's care.
Michelle Holte, who runs a daycare center out of Champlin, is charged with first-degree assault after reportedly admitting to injuring the child while he was in her care. According to court documents, Holte said she "tossed" the child and put him down "harder than normal." Officials say she noticed the child wasn't focusing and that his eyes were slanted. She told investigators she felt "overwhelmed and frustrated," according to the criminal complaint, adding that she had reached "a breaking point, in a bad way. In a wrong way."
Following Holte's admission, officials consulted a doctor, who said the injuries are consistent with the story told. The child, who officials say suffered a hematoma, is in a medically induced coma and had part of his skull removed to help brain swelling, according to medical records. Officials say the records indicate the injuries are "highly suggestive of abusive head trauma and severe child physical abuse." It's also believed that the injuries will have "long-term medical consequences," according to court documents.
Prosecutors say the parents noticed signs of possible child abuse after picking up the child on Oct. 18. According to the criminal complaint, the parents said the child's eyes were turned to the left at pick-up and then closed during the ride home. One of the parents then noticed the child wouldn't turn their head straight, and that his eyes were bouncing while veering left. The child was eventually taken to the hospital and is currently in critical condition.
Holte initially told investigators that the 6-month-old was injured when another child dropped him, however, a doctor said that the injuries didn't align with that story. Officials spoke with the child that Holte accused of dropping the 6-month-old, and that child told officials that Holte was "rough" with the 6-month-old. Using an anatomical doll to describe what Holte did to the 6-month-old, the child took the doll to eye level and dropped the doll on the table. During the post-Miranda interview, Holte admitted to tossing the 6-month-old.
Holte's first court appearance is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 27.
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