In Louisiana, Gretna babysitter arrested after 2-month-old is diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome | Shaken Baby Syndrome Attorney

A Gretna, Louisiana woman paid to care for children in her home was reportedly arrested after doctors diagnosed one of her infant charges with shaken baby syndrome, authorities said. Sherry Savois, 56, was booked Wednesday with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, according to Deputy Chief Anthony Christiana of the Gretna Police Department.

The case is reportedly still under investigation, but Christiana said Savois, an unlicensed child care provider, watched six or seven children at her Gretna home, 2600 block of Lafayette St., on a regular basis. The children aren't related to her, authorities said.

In August, the mother of a 2-month-old girl noticed one of her baby's limbs was not moving when she picked her up from the house. "There was some apparent paralysis," Christiana said. The mother told investigators the girl was fine when she dropped her off at Savois' residence earlier that day.

Doctors at a local hospital reportedly determined the girl was suffering from bleeding in her brain, Christiana said. They eventually diagnosed her with shaken baby syndrome.

The girl's mother contacted Gretna police. Christiana said the diagnosis, the investigation, the gathering of medical documentation and meetings with the district attorney's office took some time. Detectives obtained a warrant for Savois' arrest on Oct. 15.

Police aren't sure whether the girl is the only victim. Investigators contacted Savois' other customers and advised the parents to have their children medically examined, Christiana said.

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

In Louisiana, Marrero dad indicted in death of his 3-month-old daughter | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A Jefferson Parish grand jury reportedly indicted a Marrero man Thursday in the death of his 3-month-old daughter, who died from what authorities say was "shaken baby syndrome." Raymond Riego Jr., 39, was charged with second-degree murder, accused in the Jan. 30 death of Madison Nicole Hughes.

The incident reportedly happened Jan. 26 or Jan. 27, inside an Annette Drive home belonging to her mother's family. Riego is originally from Buras but apparently was residing at the home, authorities have said.

The infant's maternal family reportedly told the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office she slept with Riego overnight. But early on Jan. 27, a relative who went into Riego's bedroom noticed the infant "was limp, gasping for air," Detective Travis Eserman testified during a March 12 hearing in the 24th Judicial District Court.

She reportedly was later declared brain dead, caused by "unaccidental trauma," Eserman testified. The autopsy confirmed "closed head trauma consistent with shaken baby syndrome," he testified.

Riego reportedly was initially booked with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, then booked with an additional murder charge after Madison died. The Jefferson Parish district attorney's office declined to pursue the cruelty charge, "because that's encompassed in the murder charge," Assistant District Attorney Sunny Funk said.

Riego reportedly admitted he shook the baby, but only after the autopsy, Eserman testified. "He told us he knew we wound find something at autopsy," Eserman testified. "He knew that he caused it."

Riego is held in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in lieu of a $1 million bond, Funk said. His case has been assigned to Judge Hans Liljeberg's court, records show. The case record does not reflect whether he has an attorney. His arraignment is expected to be Friday.

Second-degree murder reportedly carries a mandatory life sentence with no probation, parole or suspended sentence.

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

In Louisiana, Marrero dad indicted in death of his 3-month-old daughter | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A Jefferson Parish grand jury reportedly indicted a Marrero man Thursday in the death of his 3-month-old daughter, who died from what authorities say was "shaken baby syndrome." Raymond Riego Jr., 39, was charged with second-degree murder, accused in the Jan. 30 death of Madison Nicole Hughes.

The incident reportedly happened Jan. 26 or Jan. 27, inside an Annette Drive home belonging to her mother's family. Riego is originally from Buras but apparently was residing at the home, authorities have said.

The infant's maternal family reportedly told the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office she slept with Riego overnight. But early on Jan. 27, a relative who went into Riego's bedroom noticed the infant "was limp, gasping for air," Detective Travis Eserman testified during a March 12 hearing in the 24th Judicial District Court.

She was later reportedly declared brain dead, caused by "unaccidental trauma," Eserman testified. The autopsy confirmed "closed head trauma consistent with shaken baby syndrome," he testified.

Riego was initially booked with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, then reportedly booked with an additional murder charge after Madison died. The Jefferson Parish district attorney's office declined to pursue the cruelty charge, "because that's encompassed in the murder charge," Assistant District Attorney Sunny Funk said.

Riego reportedly admitted he shook the baby, but only after the autopsy, Eserman testified. "He told us he knew we wound find something at autopsy," Eserman testified. "He knew that he caused it."

Riego is held in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in lieu of a $1 million bond, Funk said. His case has been assigned to Judge Hans Liljeberg's court, records show. The case record does not reflect whether he has an attorney. His arraignment is expected to be Friday.

Second-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence with no probation, parole or suspended sentence.

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

In Louisiana, Father convicted of negligent homicide in infant's death | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A jury on Tuesday reportedly found Chase Cascio guilty of negligent homicide in the death of his 2-month-old son, who was killed in June 2009.

After about five hours of deliberation, the jury reportedly came back with the guilty verdict that could put Cascio in prison for two to five years, said prosecuting attorney Josephine Heller.

The verdict on Tuesday reportedly followed closing arguments by both sides, focusing on whether it was Cascio who beat and shook the baby, whether he intended to harm the baby, the believability of witness testimonies and the timing of events.

Prosecutors Heller and Nick Anderson reportedly told the jury that Cascio had a violent past, had been quoted saying “everyone has a breaking point” and that pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Jose Bermudez had testified that the injuries the baby suffered were consistent with those caused by blunt force trauma less than an hour or so before the baby was sent to the hospital.

Anderson argued Cascio had reportedly reached his breaking point at home, with the increasing arguments he had gotten into with his wife stemming from their different upbringings and financial struggles.

Anderson reportedly said witnesses such as the baby’s mother, great-grandmother and a family neighbor had testified that the baby had seemed happy days and hours before he was in Cascio’s care.

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com