Woman charged with manslaughter in death of infant
Stephanie Walker [Brooklyn Center Police Department]
A woman was charged with manslaughter in the death of an infant who died Dec. 14.
According to the criminal complaint, On Dec. 12 Brooklyn Center police were called to a home on the report of an unconscious baby.
When officers arrived they started life-saving measures on the 2-month-old boy. The infant was taken to the hospital where it was learned that he had suffered multiple skull fractures and was suffering from severe brain swelling.
The boy died on Dec. 14.
Officers spoke with adults who were present at the home where the infant was found. A woman stated that she was the foster mother of the infant’s mother and had agreed to watch the infant for the weekend. When the foster mother was out of the house she indicated that another woman, 39-year-old Stephanie Monique Walker, had watched the infant. The foster mother indicated that she had concerns about leaving the infant with Walker due to Walker’s severe arthritis that limits her ability to stand and move, however, Walker convinced the foster mother to allow her to care for the infant.
Initially, when interviewed, Walker denied knowing how the victim had been injured.
In a later interview with Walker following the infant’s death, Walker admitted that she agreed to watch the infant while her foster mother was away. Walker said that she heard the infant downstairs and wanted to check on him so she picked him up. She then stated that she went towards the stairs. Walker said she suffers severe arthritis and would not normally hold a baby while standing due to issues with her legs. As Walker was descending the stairs, she says that she fell and landed on top of the baby at the bottom of the stairs on the concrete floor covered by linoleum.
Walker admitted to not seeking help for the infant saying she didn’t call 911 or tell anyone else in the home what had happened, even after the infant stopped breathing.
Editors Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Walker was the victim’s mother. It has now been corrected.