A Montrose woman is accused of abusing an infant in her care, resulting in the 8-month-old girl’s hospitalization.
Former daycare worker Carolina Jaramillo, 22, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of felony child abuse and is now free on bond. Formal charges have not been filed. She is due in court May 23. No attorney was listed in her court file.
“We’re still investigating this. There absolutely was a public safety risk,” Montrose Police Chief Blaine Hall said Thursday morning.
Police officers were summoned to Montrose Memorial Hospital, along with Child Protective Services, the evening of April 24, regarding an infant with serious bodily injury.
Hall said the baby’s parent had discovered the injuries and immediately taken her to the hospital. He declined for now to specify the injuries, but said the infant is recovering.
Hall said that over the course of the week, his detectives identified Jaramillo as the suspect.
She “committed a very serious act of child abuse,” Hall alleged.
Jaramillo worked at Tender Hearts Preschool and Child Care Center, but Hall said she is no longer employed there. Management at the daycare have been very cooperative and there are no other suspects, he said.
“I have been in business for 23 years and we take the care and safety of the children entrusted to us with utmost priority,” Tender Hearts director Deborah Martinez said.
“All our staff meets state requirements for education and training. We do have surveillance in place to monitor safety.”
According to Jaramillo’s staff bio online, she has worked at the center since 2015 and was the lead teacher of the infant room.
“I love being with kids and sometimes I must act like one and laugh at myself,” Jaramillo’s bio states. “It’s fun to hang out with the children; when I’m not working, I am usually babysitting my nephews.”
Because Tender Hearts is located in Montrose County, the police are now jointly investigating the case with the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office and Child Protective Services.
Hall said investigators are looking into whether Jaramillo allegedly harmed others in her care and said if members of the public have information, they should disclose it to one of the three agencies.
“We can always hope there are not other victims, but if anyone has information or thinks their child may be a victim, they need to contact us, CPS or the MCSO,” Hall said.
“This was an 8-month-old child, which makes this a serious crime. It’s terrible. … This was a very serious and heinous act,” Hall said.
Katharhynn Heidelberg is the senior writer for the Montrose Daily Press. Follow her on Twitter @kathMDP.
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