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Oxon Hill day-care provider charged with murder in baby girl’s death Oxon Hill day-care provider charged with murder in baby girl’s death
(about 1 hour later)
A day-care provider has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the December death of a baby girl who was left in her care in Prince George’s County, authorities said. A Prince George’s County day-care provider who regulatory officials said did not have a license was charged with killing a 9-month-old girl she was watching, authorities announced Friday.
According to police, at about 7 a.m. on Dec. 2, the mother of 9-month-old Savannah Kai Wright dropped the baby off at the home of Beatrice Manning, 43, an unlicensed day-care provider in Oxon Hill. The medical examiner in Maryland said the baby — Savannah Kai Wright — died from blunt force trauma to her head two days after she was taken to Children’s National Medical Center on Dec. 2 and put on life support. Police said the infant was bleeding from the brain.
Around 11 a.m., police said, Manning called 911 and said the baby was “lethargic and had become unresponsive.” The baby was taken to Children’s National Medical Center and was found to be bleeding from the brain, authorities said. She was put on life support and died two days later, on Dec. 4. After an investigation, Prince George’s County police arrested Beatrice Manning, 43, who they said ran a day-care center out of her home on Helmont Place in Oxon Hill. She was charged with first-degree murder, child abuse leading to death and two counts of felony assault, police said.
The District’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that the cause of death was blunt force injury to the head, according to officials. The medical examiner also said the manner of death was a homicide. Wright’s mother, Qiana Wright, has in recent weeks posted numerous pictures of her daughter on Facebook and shared comments to help her through her grief.
Authorities said the autopsy results and an investigation found that the baby’s injuries occurred while she was in Manning’s care. “She liked everything,” Wright said of Savannah in an interview. “If you could have a perfect baby, it would be her. She never cried. She smiled at everything. She was happy from the time she woke up until the time she went to sleep. Everything about her was pure joy.”
Savannah’s mother, Qiana Wright, said Friday that she used to teach at a Prince George’s County school, which is where she first met Manning, whose own children were in her class. Wright, who is 37 and lives in Temple Hills, said she knew then that Manning had a day-care center in her home. In a March post on Facebook, Wright, who is 37 and lives in Temple Hills with her husband, Julius, wrote, “Hi Savannah . . . mommy misses you baby girl.” She posted a photo of a the bright-eyed baby.
Wright said she knew of no problems and heard no other complaints from the parents of other children in Manning’s care. She said Manning looked after at least four other children, some younger, some older, than her daughter. Wright said she knew the day-care provider because years ago, as a teacher, she taught Manning’s children. She said Manning watched over four other children, some younger, some older than Savannah. A state official confirmed that number.
But state officials said Friday that Manning did not have the necessary license to run a day care in her home. Maryland requires that all child-care providers who are not relatives have a license to operate from the Office of Child Care, which is under the state’s Department of Education. The morning of Dec. 2 appeared routine. Julius Wright headed off to his construction job, and Qiana went to her job at a Prince George’s County elementary school. She dropped Savannah off at day care about 7 a.m. About 11 a.m., police said, Manning called 911 and told an operator that the baby was “lethargic and had become unresponsive.”
Bill Reinhard, a spokesman for Maryland’s Department of Education, said Manning had never been investigated. “We had no knowledge she was operating,”he said. The baby was taken to Children’s Hospital, where she died Dec. 4. Authorities said the autopsy results and an investigation found that the baby’s injuries occurred while she was in Manning’s care and ruled the manner of death a homicide. Police said doctors at the hospital determined Savannah “would have sustained her injuries approximately 45 minutes prior to [Manning] calling 911,” according to charging documents filed in court.
Wright said she was at work when she got a call from Manning on Dec. 2 saying that her daughter had been injured. On Friday, she said she did not recall the actual conversation, saying, “I’m trying to block it out.” In court documents, investigators said that Manning waived her right to a lawyer. She told officials that the baby had come to her home “healthy and in normal condition.” But she said the baby started to vomit around 10:30 a.m. and stopped breathing, according to police and court records. Manning told authorities she called 911 and performed CPR until an ambulance arrived.
Wright said she still works in the county school system and that her husband, Julius, is a construction worker. Savannah was Wright’s fourth child — the others are ages 19, 12 and 9. Wright said on Friday that she knew of no problems and heard no other complaints from the parents of other children in Manning’s care. “I wouldn’t have left my child there if I thought something like this could happen,” she said.
“She liked everything,” Wright said of Savannah. “If you could have a perfect baby, it would be her. She never cried. She smiled at everything. She was happy from the time she woke up until the time she went to sleep. Everything about her was pure joy.” Wright also said that Manning called her after calling police to tell her that her daughter had been injured. “I’m trying to block it out.” In addition to her parents, Savannah is survived by three siblings ages 9, 12 and 19.
In a March post on Facebook, Wright wrote, “Hi Savannah . . . mommy misses you baby girl” with a photo of the bright-eyed child. A court commissioner initially ordered Manning, who was arrested Tuesday, held without bail, but District Judge Joseph Wright lowered it to $250,000 during a hearing on Friday. Court records show Manning posted the 10 percent required — a $25,000 property bond — and was released pending her next hearing May 2. Manning did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for the county state’s attorney’s office said a prosecutor argued against setting bail.
Investigators said Manning waived her right to a lawyer. She told officials that the baby had come to her home “healthy and in normal condition.” But she said the baby started to vomit around 10:30 a.m. and stopped breathing, according to police and court records. Manning told authorities she called 911 and performed CPR until an ambulance arrived. Maryland officials said Friday that Manning did not have the necessary license to run a day care in her home. Maryland requires that all child-care providers who are not relatives have a license to operate from the Office of Child Care, which is under the state’s Department of Education.
In their investigation, police said, doctors at Children’s Hospital determined that the baby “would have sustained her injuries approximately 45 minutes prior to [Manning] calling 911,” according to charging documents filed in court. Bill Reinhard, a spokesman for Maryland’s Department of Education, said Manning had not been previouslyinvestigated. “We had no knowledge she was operating,” he said. Reinhard said Manning’s day-care operation was given a cease-and-desist letter on Dec. 3.
Police said Manning was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder, child abuse and assault.
Officials with the state said that Manning had four children in her care at the time, according to Reinhard. Manning’s day-care operation was given a cease-and-desist letter on Dec. 3.
At a review hearing Friday in District Court, a judge set bail for Manning at $250,000. Court records show Manning posted a $25,000 property bond, the 10 percent required, and was released.
She has a court hearing scheduled for May 2.
Eddy Palanzo contributed to this report.Eddy Palanzo contributed to this report.