This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/oxon-hill-day-care-provider-charged-with-murder-in-baby-girls-death/2016/04/08/ae0f1afa-fda2-11e5-886f-a037dba38301_story.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| 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 4 hours later) | |
| A Prince George’s County day-care provider who regulatory officials say did not have a license was charged with killing a 9-month-old girl she was watching, authorities announced Friday. | |
| The medical examiner in Maryland said the baby — Savannah Kai Wright — died of 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. | |
| After an investigation, Prince George’s 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. | |
| Savannah’s mother, Qiana Wright, has in recent weeks posted numerous pictures of the child on Facebook and shared comments to help her through her grief. | |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| 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 the bright-eyed baby. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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.” | |
| 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 death a homicide. Police said doctors at the hospital determined that Savannah “would have sustained her injuries approximately 45 minutes prior to [Manning] calling 911,” according to charging documents filed in court. | |
| In court documents, investigators said Manning waived her right to an attorney. She told officials that the baby had arrived at her home “healthy and in normal condition.” But she said the baby started to vomit about 10:30 a.m. and stopped breathing, according to police and court records. Manning told authorities that she called 911 and performed CPR until an ambulance arrived. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| A court commissioner initially ordered Manning, who was arrested Tuesday, held without bail, but District Judge Joseph Wright set bail at $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. | |
| 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 from the Office of Child Care, which is under the state’s Department of Education. | |
| Bill Reinhard, a spokesman for Maryland’s Department of Education, said Manning had not been previously investigated. “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. | |
| Eddy Palanzo contributed to this report. | Eddy Palanzo contributed to this report. |