Scalded, drowned baby was in tub for a nap [10 month old put in bath tub for nap dies]

The Grand Rapids Press ^ | Wednesday, June 25, 2003 | Theresa D. Mcclellan

[FourPeas]

Scalded, drowned baby was in tub for a nap

Wednesday, June 25, 2003By Theresa D. Mcclellan
The Grand Rapids Press

LOWELL -- The baby who died in a bathtub at a Lowell day-care center was placed in the empty tub for a nap because there was no other place to sleep, state investigators learned.

Investigators determined the child suffered severe burns on her right leg and all 10 toes, according to a report by state investigators from Consumer and Industry Services.

The state has closed the in-home child care center where 10-month-old Ashley Woern, daughter of Allen and Cathy Woern, died Thursday.

The Kent County Sheriff's Department said it has not completed its investigation.

Jim Sinnamon, director of consultation, training and child day care licensing with the Bureau of Family Services, a division of Consumer and Industry Services, said the child was found Thursday floating in a bathtub at the day-care center, operated by Debra K. Stickney, 52, of 3101 Kissing Rock Ave. in Lowell.

Stickney's home has been licensed since 1987 for six children. She told licensing investigators she routinely cared for more than the six children she was licensed for, according to the state report.

On June 19, she had 11 unrelated children in her home, the state report said. Sinnamon said he doesn't know why.

"I don't know if people thought she was exceptionally good or what. There are a lot of providers in the area. Maybe there a lot of siblings; maybe it's price," he said

On the day of Ashley's death, Stickney wrapped up the 10-month-old girl in a blanket and put her down for a nap in an empty bathtub at 12:05 p.m.

Stickney placed another 1-year-old down for a nap in a crib. Both children were sleeping on the second floor of the home, Sinnamon said. Other children in the home were playing or napping.

At 12:15 p.m. Stickney left the day-care home, leaving two caregivers, ages 17 and 28, in charge.

Sinnamon said the two caregivers, whom he did not name, reported hearing the baby in the tub crying at 2:30 p.m., but no one checked on her, Sinnamon said.

He said Stickney returned to the home at 2:45 p.m. and did not check on the upstairs children until 3:25 p.m., when she found Ashley floating dead in the bathtub. She had severe burns on her lower right leg and on the bottom of all ten toes, the report stated.

"The child was napping for 3 1/2 hours, and within that time frame you would expect a provider to look in on a child. That did not happen," Sinnamon said.

"All we know is that the child was put in a bathtub for a nap, and there weren't adequate checks. When they went to see the child, she was drowned," he said.

Sinnamon speculated that a 10-month-old "could potentially turn on a faucet."

"This is a new one for me, and we hear a lot. This is really sad. She was just 10 months old," he said.

Neighbors of the child-care center declined to speak to the Press. Calls to the home were unanswered.

Ashley's mother, Cathy Woern, said she is "just trying to heal" from the loss of her child. The baby's funeral was Monday at the Roth-Gerst Chapel in Lowell.

The family's pastor, the Rev. Gordon Barry, said he told the family they live in a world where accidents happen. Barry said the family has a large circle of supportive friends.

"I don't say it's any kind of judgment on the parent or a message from God to get their attention. We live in a world that is not perfect and accidents happen," he said.

He said it is important for the family to "get through this so there is no guilt and second-guessing."

Barry said he also called the day-care provider.

"I don't know her, but wanted to check in with her," he said. "It's devastating for everybody. Everybody is hurting."

[camle]

yeah, the poor, poor day care provider....

what kind of idiot puts an infant alone in a bathtub?

[Gunder]

"Stickney's home has been licensed since 1987 for six children. She told licensing investigators she routinely cared for more than the six children she was licensed for, according to the state report."

Send this woman to prison. End of story.

[FourPeas]

I can't imagine. I never let my boys alone in the bathtub, wet or dry, until they were at least 3. For the cost of a pack-n-play, this child's life could have been saved.

[Onelifetogive]

He said it is important for the family to "get through this so there is no guilt and second-guessing."

Barf!!!

[EggsAckley]

They ARE implying that the 10-month-old turned the water on, aren't they? Somehow that seems like a real stretch. If that had happened, wouldn't the baby have been burned around the upper body instead of the feet? Something's missing here.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

...the child was found Thursday floating in a bathtub at the day-care center, operated by Debra K. Stickney, 52, of 3101 Kissing Rock Ave. in Lowell.

Some people have the brains of an ant. Leaving a baby alone in a bathtub? This person's days of child care are over, if she doesn't go to jail.

[Corin Stormhands]

They ARE implying that the 10-month-old turned the water on, aren't they?

Even if the child did manage to turn on the water (and I have a real hard time believing that), what child wouldn't absolutely scream it's head off when that happened?

[EggsAckley]

Exactly!

[wimpycat]

I think either an adult turned the faucet on on purpose or else another child, maybe a toddler, did it.

[EggsAckley]

I think you're right. SOMEbody did it. It simply couldn't have been the baby.

[wimpycat]

I think there's some sort of coverup going on. It wouldn't surprise me at all if one of the "caregivers" ended up being arrested.

[agooga]

This story really bothers me. I'm at work, looking at a photo of my 10 month old baby girl- the sweetest, happiest little knuckle-head that ever graced the earth, and I mentally put her into that tub, left alone for three hours (!), and I can see exactly what happened and why.

My daughter cannot walk yet but she can pull herself up and stand. The girl pulled herself up into a standing position, either by holding onto the side of the tub or on the handles of the faucet. She then turned the handles of the faucet, obviously opeing the tap to the hot water.

She had no idea why the water was coming out- but it was scalding hot. She had no idea how to stop it.

I can't imagine how her screams of pain and terror were not heard.

Eventually she must have slipped into the water- perhaps she was trying desperately to climb out, slipped and hit her head.

Terrible. The worst thing for me is that I see my daughter quite vividly in this girl's place and it makes me crazy with rage and concern.

These "caregivers" should do jail time for this.

[null and void]

Amen.

A vivid imagination isn't always a blessing, is it?

[null and void]

Ummm, just one final thought.

Who turned OFF the water???

[freedox]

According to the article, the child was burned on the lower right leg and on the bottom of all 10 toes. This burn pattern is inconsistent with scalding. Somebody's lying, and I'm sure the investigators know it.

[wimpycat]

Good observation. The article doesn't mention if the bathtub was overflowing, now does it?

My money is on one of the "caregivers" at the moment.

[FourPeas]

I can see a 10-month-old turning on the water depending on the type of faucet. Ours simply pulls down. My boys could have easily done it at 10 months. If the child was standing it would explain the lower rather than upper body, perhaps even the bottom of the feet.

[TLBSHOW]

A disgusted BUMP

[agooga]

I have a really hard time imagining that the "caregivers" were maliciously to blame for this. Another toddler, maybe.

Who turned off the water? Good question- but the article does not say whether it was even turned off at all when the child was found. Perhaps the child managed to do it at some point when it was full enough to drown her, but could not stand long enough in the full tub to stay above water.

I don't know. All I can do is simply ache for those poor poor parents!