Posted on 05/29/2017 10:52:54 AM PDT by Impala64ssa
Police have arrested a 23-year-old daycare worker accused of assaulting an 8-month-old girl during nap time, which resulted in her death. One police official says in his opinion, the victim was “tortured.”
Leah Walden faces numerous charges, including first and second-degree murder, in the death of Reese Bowman.
“It’s giving me cold chills now to even think about it,” said Tim Barth, who watched first responders arrive.
According to police, Walden is seen on video snatching Bowman by one arm several times, as well as placing pillows over her face.
“As a parent you send your child to daycare because you think it’s going to be safe for them,” Shelley Veasey said.
Police say Bowman died on May 23, after officers were called to the Rocket Tiers Learning Center located on South High Street for a report of a baby not breathing.
“Reese Bowman in my opinion was tortured,” said Col. Stanley Branford of Baltimore Police. “Just evil, what motive could you possibly have to treat a baby that way.”
Responding officers found medics performing CPR on an 8-month-old girl, later identified as Bowman.
“You would never think that someone would do something as evil as that because that’s an 8-month-old baby, innocent, that baby was innocent,” one person said.
Bowman was taken to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. Police say there were no obvious signs of “trauma or injuries” to Bowman at that time.
Police immediately began investigating, and spoke with Walden, a caretaker at Rocket Tiers. She told police that she fed Bowman, wrapped her up in a blanket, and placed her in a crib for a nap.
When she returned about 45 minutes later, she said she noticed Bowman was not breathing and contact authorities.
The daycare facility has cameras throughout the center, and investigators began going through the video. The owner of the facility notified police on Wednesday that they had discovered some “disturbing” video.
Police say the video shows Walden putting excessive blankets on Bowman, which covered her head, before snatching Bowman out of the crib by one arm several times, swinging at Bowman as if she were slapping her, then placing pillows over her face.
Walden also walked off camera with Bowman several times, and police say they “can only assume” what Walden may have done off camera.
“It was really sad, they were running back and forth into daycare center. They rushed her as quick as they could into the ambulance. They had her covered up but her little feet were hanging out. It was so sad,” Veasey said.
Police say they do not know why Walden assaulted Bowman, but it appears that Bowman was awake during the assault.
According to police, there have been no previous formal complaints against this daycare facility.
Walden’s bio remained on their website which says “the best part of being a teacher is caring for babies who love me as much as I love them.”
Police say Walden had been working at the daycare for more than 2 years.
The Maryland Department of Education says they put Rocket Tiers under an emergency suspension and a spokesman says they can’t reopen unless a judge allows them to.
According to the Baltimore Sun in July an inspection cited the daycare for six violations. As of September, only four violations were corrected.
Daycare employees are required to undergo criminal background checks. It will take some time to verify whether Walden ever passed hers.
The Bowman Family released the following statement:
“Our family is suffering tremendous pain and wishes to grieve in private. Our hearts are broken. No family should ever have to experience the loss of a child under any circumstances. We await further information from the unfolding investigation.”
Police say Walden did not have a prior record and there doesn’t appear to be other victims but they’re urging parents who are suspicious to call the child abuse center at 443-984-7378.
I have ZERO sympathy for those who abuse or exploit children.
This woman should be smothered herself
I was right there with you......now days I know the perp's race just by learning the city where the crime happened.
Seriously though, how many examples are there of kids being tortured to death in day care centers? It's like when I was growing up and there were always scare stories of bogeymen who would lure you into their cars with candy.
This is similar to the hysteria that has people calling for grabbing all our guns and banning Halloween and such. "If just one precious life could be saved...it will be all worth it."
your right!!!
Leah Walden , doing her small part for Black Lives Matter.
Shoot the disgusting b*$ch.
your kidding!!! right??? Won’t happen~~~~sadly
“Both cult like zealots, both just as dangerous”
As opposed to what...squishy in the middle sheep that vote for “in the middle” politicians that have left us 20 trillion dollars in debt and with a soulless rootless culture that is now tearing itself apart? Have you not been around FREEPERVILLE long enough to know that most Freepers here are fairly close to that right wing religious spectrum you like to characterize as “nuts”?
Still I wouldn’t call you a jack-ass but the way you popped off on this thread characterizes you more like a Tasmanian Devil(not the cartoon version) but the real life type...apt to go to war with just about any other creature and fellow devil, even bite your own self anytime you catch yourself by your own surprise!
Oh yes. The city is the first clue, the names are the second, and then the police commenting on how incomprehensible, random, motive-less, puzzling, etc... that’s the final confirmation.
Kill her, now ! We have to start dealing more severly with evil.
Kill her, now ! We have to start dealing more severly with evil.
Oh it’s a woman. My wife and I have countless arguments about this, but I believe if this was a man he wouldn’t see the light of day ever again. But her legal team will cook up some sympathy for her and a jury will sympathize, based on gender.
Another hero for the Left.
Thank you.
100 years ago America loved mothers and children. A century of progressivism put an end to that.
My son is in the age 2 to 4 room, and there are at least 3 daycare attendants at all times. Very rarely would a single day care provider be alone with a child. Maybe taking them to the washroom, and washroom door is left open at all times.
I think these precautions are for their benefit as much as ours, as no one wants to be the target of an accusation.
I feel comfortable about the care center he attends, and spend our quality time together evenings and weekend.
I also like how loving they are with the children. SO hopefully in the end a great choice.
Hysteria guides us now. I walked to school at least 3/4 of a mile when I was 5. There is no way I would let my 5,6, 7, or even 8 year old walk to school that far by themselves.
I get nervous if I am ever responsible for small children not my own, just imaging the accusations that could be made. All paranoia I know.
When wicked people get their wicked way, it’s a poor reflection on the God we believe that we should desire more wickedness be added to the scene.
“Seriously though, how many examples are there of kids being tortured to death in day care centers?”
That’s a caricature. The damage is far more long-lasting and pernicious, as an entire generation of children were abandoned by their mommies in order to “preserve their quality of life” yada yada. Those kids needed their moms, and no nameless, faceless “childcare worker” can replace at minimum wage.
“Seriously though, how many examples are there of kids being tortured to death in day care centers?”
That’s a caricature. The damage is far more long-lasting and pernicious, as an entire generation of children were abandoned by their mommies in order to “preserve their quality of life” yada yada. Those kids needed their moms, and no nameless, faceless “childcare worker” can replace at minimum wage.
Societies can make many choices in the face of circumstances that are not ideal.
We don’t have a black-and-white question here. Sometimes we have to go for the lightest grey we can find.
And yet in the long term there is much to be said for readjustments of families so that they can be together more in a good way. We don’t have an either-or that is static, we have a both-and that is dynamic.
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