A 5-year-old boy lost his life after his babysitter allegedly horrifically abused him causing trauma to his brain and internal organs.
Laurren Jeanette Courtney is a 22-year-old self-employed entertainer in Las Vegas.
Since August, Courtney has supplemented her income by providing sitting services to a family with a 5-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. Courtney reportedly sat for the children between 3 and 5 days per week.
The father of the children reported that his daughter told him Courtney was harming her brother, so he installed surveillance cameras throughout the home to keep an eye on things when they were in her care.
On March 11, Courtney placed a call to the dad to inform him that his son was not feeling well. She reportedly said that the boy was throwing up blood.
After notifying the authorities, the dad rushed home to check his son’s condition.
When he reached the residence, his wife was already there, and the man reported that his son was not doing well. Courtney left the home after the mother of the children arrived.
The child was seen at University Medical Center, and it was revealed that he had a brain bleed, and his skull was fractured. In addition to the head injuries, his spleen and other internal organs were damaged.
When looking at the surveillance footage from the home cameras, the father reported that he was horrified as he allegedly watched Courtney drag his child around the floor aggressively. He also reportedly saw her slam the boy’s head on the ground, and she appeared to continue aggressively physically abuse the child for 2 minutes.
The child died in the hospital on March 12.
The police, who had seen the video of the alleged attack, spoke with Courtney at Metro Headquarters. She allegedly offered several different accounts of what occurred while she was babysitting on the day in question.
Courtney reportedly told the police that the boy constantly wet himself, and she became increasingly upset with having to tend to the messes. She also said that when she got to the home on March 11, the boy had a mark on his head. She allegedly implied that his father was abusive and likely responsible for his fatal injuries. In another explanation, Courtney reportedly said she suffers from mental health issues, and she did not remember the incident at all.
Courtney is facing charges for suspicion of first-degree murder, three counts of child abuse or neglect causing substantial bodily or mental harm, four counts of child abuse or neglect, and one count of child endangerment.
It was reported that she was released on bail, and she has a court date on May 18 regarding the charges.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.