CHAMPLIN, Minn. — A Champlin woman pleaded guilty to first-degree assault after a 6-month-old was put into a medically induced coma due to injuries suffered while in the woman's care.
Michelle Holte entered her plea Wednesday after being charged back in October for admitting to injuring the child while he was in her care. Holte was running a daycare center out of Champlin when she "tossed" the child and put him down "harder than normal," according to court documents. 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 weren't consistent with the story told. The child, who officials say suffered a hematoma, was put 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 him up 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 his head straight, and that his eyes were bouncing while veering left. The child was eventually taken to the hospital, where he's still receiving treatment.
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.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 24, 2024.
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