Police: Infant Dies After Being ‘Tortured’ By Daycare Worker

CBS Baltimore ^ | May 25, 2017 | By Rick Ritter

[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.

[shhrubbery!]

Funny how they manage to bring in people that have both names and faces.

Faces that are sometimes false. This torturer and murderess gushed about how much she loved the children she "cared" for. Fooled some folks, didn't she.

[randomhero97]

So, a couple of questions:
Did either or both of you send your kids to public schools?
Do either or both of you draw social security and/or Medicare/Medicaid?

[apocalypto]

Not a human!

[Agamemnon]

Btw, I did raise my several children "how I wanted." They're all grown up now. All productive citizens. No substance abuse, no tattoos, no unemployment, no "gender" confusion, no debilitating psychological problems from being dumped in daycare.

You "raised" several children where - in a barnyard?

My wife and I had the pleasure of rearing 4 tremendous children. All 4 of our kids were in early learning day care and pre-school, prior to attending public school elementary through high school. We are both science-based professionals. My wife joined the consulting firm I established 21 years ago when the first kids entered high school.

The 2 older boys were both Eagle Scouts and entered US Marine Corps. Honorably discharged, both completed college after service and both are gainfully employed in their professions: one is an environmental health and safety specialist and one is in executive recruiting .

Both younger daughters completed their undergrads, one has obtained her Masters from Sotheby's in London, and works in an East Asian boutique art gallery on Central Park, and the other is in cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering, both sharing an apartment on the upper East Side NYC.

All happy, well-adjusted, accomplished, clean, and drug free.

My wife and I feel guilty for nothing.

I can spot somewhat-lesser accomplished, self-righteous posers like you from a mile away. You have helped yourselves to sitting in judgment of people like my wife and me and my kids for years, but we're all happy, healthy, debt-free, and perhaps with any luck someday you all will be too.

FReegards!

[Salvation]

Another reason to stay home and pinch pennies to mothers can care for their own children.

[shhrubbery!]

You and I have touched a raw nerve, my dear!

It reminds me of what happens when a pro-life person dares to say the truth about abortion. Howls of outrage.

Decades ago there was a child psychologist named Jay Belsky who tried to sound a warning about putting babies in daycare. For that, the Leftist media almost destroyed his career. This article from the NYT in 1987 is actually one of the more balanced -
Day Care for Infants: Debate Turns to Long Term Effects.

The irony was, Belsky had set out to prove that daycare was actually good for children. But when he found the opposite, he published his real findings – not the socially correct dogma that daycare is good, or at least harmless. (Imagine that, an honest social researcher.)

The pressure on Belsky to retract was so intense, he did retreat somewhat to try to appease outraged feminists and the career women whose consciences he had ruffled.

[randomhero97]

Hell yeah brother.

The "daycare" we send ours too is sort of a preschool prep school. Kids have the option of learning a foreign language as well. It has a reputation of developing kids to a third grade level by the time they reach first grade. Now, don't get me wrong. We spend as much time as possible with the kids, but they are so proud of themselves when they show what they learned at school.

[riri]

I am with you. 100%.

I can't even imagine having dropped my babies off to be in a the care of some minimum wage stranger for 8, 9, 10--12 hours a day. The best moments of my life were their lazy mornings--listening to them play and knowing they weren't being shuffled off to some cold, sterile place with 30 other kids.

It was worth every sacrifice made. No vacation, new car or TV could ever replace.

[shhrubbery!]

No to your last question, though I have no idea what that has to do with the subject of putting infants in daycare. Care to explain why your question is relevant?

For your first question, yes my children attended supposedly "good" public schools for awhile. When I saw how bad the public schools had become, I took them out and homeschooled them.

[House Atreides]

You didn’t answer my question. Are you naturally pompous & judgmental or have you had to work to develop those qualities? Did you develop your haughty character by nature or by nurture?

[shhrubbery!]

You "raised" several children where - in a barnyard?

If you're objecting to the word "raised," I was simply quoting the person to whom I replied. IOW, it was Mr. Hammerhead's construction.

But again, the ad hominem attack. As noted before:
Ad hominem is where Leftists go when they know their arguments have been defeated.

[combat_boots]

MOAR: http://i.4cdn.org/pol/1496018826026.jpg

[shhrubbery!]

Here I thought we conservatives left the hippie buzzword "non-judgmental" to today's Leftist snowflakes.

And of course those Leftists who screech most loudly against "judgmentalism" tend to be the most judgmental, themselves. Looks as a few on the Right have been infected by Leftist attitudes and tactics.

[tjd1454]

I’m calling BS. Dimes to dollars your child would give anything to be able to stay home with mommie, learning age-appropriate activities like crafts, etc., rather than studying foreign languages at age 2? Give me a break! Is shuttling your child off to someone else to raise worth all the big bucks you are earning with two incomes? One day, either here or in the hereafter, you will rue that decision.

[dfwgator]

That’s why I say it’s a good idea for grandparents to live with the parents.

My mother-in-law has lived with us ever since we had our kids, and I can’t imagine how it would have been had it not been for her.

I also think it gives children a greater appreciation for the elderly that they hold as they go through life.

[House Atreides]

You STILL haven’t answered my question to you — is your haughtiness natural or did you have to work to develop it?

[Agamemnon]

If you're objecting to the word "raised," I was simply quoting the person to whom I replied. IOW, it was Mr. Hammerhead's construction.

Oh, so that's your excuse. It was somebody else's fault.

You sound like Hillary.

Sorry pal, you own what you wrote, whether in retrospect you want to continue to own it or not.

You pissed on a lot of people with what you wrote.

Own your piss.

It pays to preview your text before you post incontinently.

Otherwise more adept posters will hang you with your own words - like I just did.

But again, the ad hominem attack. As noted before: Ad hominem is where Leftists go when they know their arguments have been defeated.

The canned cliché is the repose of the slow witted.

Avoid canned clichés at all costs.

They reflect poorly on you, and on your posting skills.

FReegards!

[randomhero97]

Rue what decision?

The career decisions that my wife and I both took that keeps our kids, you, and your kids safe and maintains their way of life?

Maybe you're right, I should rue it. Considering how ungrateful some of you are.

[pollywog]

oh dear God!!!!! this is heart wrenching!!

[Mears]

“You are seriously deluded, my friend.”

—

Deluded? Are you serious?

I took 20 years off to raise my five kids.

I just don’t feel qualified to criticize the way that others raise their children.

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