Jury finds Springfield babysitter responsible for 2-year-old's death
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A Sangamon County Jury found a 2-year-old's babysitter responsible for her death, after having drowned in a bathtub.
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She probably left the child in the bathtub.
Kaitlynn Russell appealed her sentence and has been granted a new trial.
Just Nasty- from the appeal
A detective asked about the condition of the bathroom and the standing water in the bathtub. Defendant acknowledged the water had been in the bathtub for a while. She noted the toilet would not flush with toilet paper. Defendant had been talking to her landlord about the conditions. When asked if it was possible Paris entered the bathroom and got into the bathtub,defendant acknowledged that was possible because she did play in the bathtub. After being informed police found objects in the bathtub that made it appear Paris had been in the bathtub and being asked if Paris had been in the bathtub, defendant said Paris fell into the bathtub. Defendant had heard a “boom” and rushed to pull Paris out immediately. Paris was lying face
down, and the diaper “fell off.” Paris “wasn’t responsive.” She was gurgling. Defendant stuck her finger in Paris’s throat and tried to perform CPR for approximately five minutes. Water came out of Paris’s nose. Defendant then called Smith and took Paris to the emergency room.
Defendant explained she and her boyfriend left water in the bathtub because of the roaches and the fact roaches were attracted to the water. Defendant forgot to drain the bathtub when the children arrived. Defendant drained the bathtub using a trash can. She said she usually kept the bathroom door closed. Defendant stated when Paris fell into the bathtub, both she and Lawrence were on their phones. Lawrence had on a headset while playing a game. The television was on.
The jury found defendant guilty on all counts. At sentencing, the trial court agreed with the State’s assertion the reckless-conduct charges would merge into the child-endangerment charges under the one-act, one-crime doctrine. The court sentenced defendant to concurrent terms of 30 months’ probation and 180 days’ incarceration, with credit for the 652 days defendant served while awaiting trial.
Just Nasty- from the appeal
A detective asked about the condition of the bathroom and the standing water in the bathtub. Defendant acknowledged the water had been in the bathtub for a while. She noted the toilet would not flush with toilet paper. Defendant had been talking to her landlord about the conditions. When asked if it was possible Paris entered the bathroom and got into the bathtub,defendant acknowledged that was possible because she did play in the bathtub. After being informed police found objects in the bathtub that made it appear Paris had been in the bathtub and being asked if Paris had been in the bathtub, defendant said Paris fell into the bathtub. Defendant had heard a “boom” and rushed to pull Paris out immediately. Paris was lying face
down, and the diaper “fell off.” Paris “wasn’t responsive.” She was gurgling. Defendant stuck her finger in Paris’s throat and tried to perform CPR for approximately five minutes. Water came out of Paris’s nose. Defendant then called Smith and took Paris to the emergency room.
Defendant explained she and her boyfriend left water in the bathtub because of the roaches and the fact roaches were attracted to the water. Defendant forgot to drain the bathtub when the children arrived. Defendant drained the bathtub using a trash can. She said she usually kept the bathroom door closed. Defendant stated when Paris fell into the bathtub, both she and Lawrence were on their phones. Lawrence had on a headset while playing a game. The television was on.
The jury found defendant guilty on all counts. At sentencing, the trial court agreed with the State’s assertion the reckless-conduct charges would merge into the child-endangerment charges under the one-act, one-crime doctrine. The court sentenced defendant to concurrent terms of 30 months’ probation and 180 days’ incarceration, with credit for the 652 days defendant served while awaiting trial.
