Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A student we are NOT proud of

SUMMIT COUNTY — Summit County authorities have arrested a nanny they say physically abused infant twins — and it's not the first time the woman has been suspected of such a crime.

Aubrey Anderson, a 31-year-old former nurses' assistant, lives in Salt Lake City but has also worked as a nanny in Belgium. She's also wanted there for child abuse, but that information didn't come to light until police started investigating her in connection with the Summit County case.
"You hear about injuries children sustain that can lead to death, but fortunately it was caught in time with these children," said Detective Sgt. Ronald Bridge, with the Summit County Sheriff's Office.
She was advertising herself as a child care infant expert. She was also advertising herself as a (registered nurse's) assistant.
–Detective Sgt. Ronald Bridge
Authorities say Anderson presented herself as a reputable nanny. She posted ads on several nanny websites, with a resume noting she had provided child care in Europe.
Anderson had also worked at Primary Children's Medical Center for the past 12 years, most recently as a part-time critical care technician. She resigned in April.
"She was advertising herself as a child care infant expert," Bridge said. "She was also advertising herself as a (registered nurses') assistant."
But Anderson became the focus of a criminal investigation in January, when infant twins in her care received suspicious injuries.
Court documents say on Jan. 17, the parents noticed a bruise on their newborn daughter's face. Anderson told them the baby had rolled in her crib and smacked her face on the slats.

Enlarge image
Aubrey Anderson
Later that month, the parents took the girl's twin brother to the hospital, where doctors found he had two broken ankles and rib fractures, consistent with child abuse.
"Having to take their children to a hospital to find out that they had been abused, that's a heartbreaking investigation," Bridge said.
The investigation revealed a pattern of abuse. The case led authorities in Summit County to Belgium, where Anderson had also worked as a nanny. She's the suspect in a similar child abuse case there involving newborn twins.
Anderson fled Belgium last year, and there's still an Interpol warrant for her arrest.
"It's terrifying, truly terrifying," Bridge said. "Hopefully, now people understand a thorough background investigation is pertinent (when hiring a nanny)."
Nannies are not regulated by the state, so it's important to check references and do your own online search.
Prosecutors charged Anderson with felony child abuse. They asked the judge to set a higher than normal bail because they say Anderson is a flight risk.
Meanwhile, Summit County authorities say Interpol does not plan to extradite Anderson and the case in Belgium is on hold until the one this one is resolved.

No comments:

Post a Comment