(Heather Poltrock, WSAW) A 35-year-old Wausau woman who ran an in-home daycare has been charged with child abuse.
According to Heather Poltrock with WSAW, Shawna Munguia has been released on a $2,500 cash bond. An investigation began on May 14 after a 4-month-old child was brought to an area hospital after they were throwing up and potentially injured by another child in a daycare setting.
Doctors determined the baby had a brain bleed and a possible skull fracture. The child was in stable condition and later transported to a Marshfield hospital. Child Protective Services became involved in the investigation and noted no prior contact with the child’s family or Munguia.
Court documents state Munguia said another child fell onto her while she was holding the baby. The child’s father said there was bruising on the top of the baby’s head due to the incident. The baby was taken to the hospital by its parents after it started throwing up. Police spoke with a doctor who cared for the baby and a doctor who consulted on the case.
One of the doctors said bruising on a child less than 6 months old is concerning. The baby had retinal hemorrhaging, suggesting abusive trauma. Court documents state that an older child had fallen on the baby previously.
However, medical staff believed that this did not explain the baby’s current injury. Investigators discovered a text message Munguia sent on May 14 stating she had a baby that would not stop crying. When asked about the text, she initially said she didn’t know what would have caused the injuries, saying that she was ‘horrified’ and had ‘no idea’.
Investigators say Munguia later said, “I don’t know. I might have probably shaken [the baby]. I guess that’s the only thing that could possibly have explained it.” She said the baby was screaming, and she was frustrated.
Munguia said the baby eventually calmed down and seemed fine. When it was time for the child to go home, she put the baby in the car seat and the baby threw up more than normal. She then told the parent that a child had fallen on the baby.
The baby continued to throw up once home and was taken to the ER. The child was eventually discharged from the hospital. Munguia is expected to learn if there is enough evidence for her case to head to trial on June 9.
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