JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — A southern Indiana childcare provider was arrested Tuesday on felony charges after police say an infant died in her care nearly two years ago.
A Jeffersonville resident and home-based childcare provider, 35-year-old Brittany Baylor, was charged with aggravated battery resulting in death and neglect of a dependent resulting in death.
In July 2022, Jeffersonville Police Department requested assistance from Indiana State Police in investigating a case where an unresponsive 6-month-old infant, Airis Edmondson, was found in Jeffersonville, according to an ISP news release.
EMS personnel initially rushed Edmondson to Clark Memorial Hospital but ultimately transferred him to Kosair's Children Hospital (now Norton Children's Hospital) in Louisville. The baby died later that same day.
ISP Detective Mike Bennett led the investigation. He interviewed Edmondson's parents and Baylor. He also spoke with pediatric doctors and attended an autopsy conducted by the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office. The final autopsy report stated Edmondson's death was due to a closed head injury sustained in an assault.
Court documents say the amount of force to create an injury consistent with what authorities saw would be "akin to falling out the second story window."
Detective Bennett submitted his findings to the Clark County Prosecutor's Office in September 2022. The Prosecutor's office gave the report to doctors at Norton Pediatric Protective Services for review. The news release said the report was returned to Detective Bennett May 2024 and the Clark County Circuit 4 court issued a warrant for Baylor on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Baylor was arrested Tuesday evening without incident and transported to the Clark County Jail. Her bond is currently set at $1 million and the judge mandated that she will not be able to offer childcare services if she pays it.
The Edmondson's family attorney Larry Wilder said there was evidence that Baylor could be a danger to the community.
"There were some indications from some neighbors that it appeared that after this took place that she continued to have children in and out of the home," Wilder said.
Baylor's defense questioned why it took so long for these charged to be brought to their client in court. They said it's clear from the probably cause affidavit that the only documented injury that could be directly linked to somebody was after Baylor called 911.
She claimed in the affidavit that an injury on Edmondson came from an officer giving the child first aid. But the Clark County prosecutor Jeremy Mull said after further investigation by medical professionals that the injury came from a stronger trauma.
"The nature of that evidence, it took some time to do it. Ultimately the conclusion was reached that it was appropriate to file these charges," Mull said.
WHAS11 asked ISP why the arrest was made nearly two years after the crime was committed. They said they handed the case over to the Clark County prosecutor in September 2022.
"The county prosecutor is really the top law enforcement officer in each county, so they really want to get as much information, as much facts as they can before they make their final determination," ISP Sgt. Carey Hulls said.
The state police took over the investigation per the request of the Jeffersonville Police Department.
Within the state of Indiana childcare services without a certified license is permitted as long as a household does not exceed a certain number of children.
Baylor's next court date is scheduled for June 18 at 1:30 p.m.
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