In New York, Queens couple accused of shaking their baby to death want trial, reject plea deal | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A Queens couple reportedly accused of shaking their infant daughter to death rejected a plea bargain this morning, saying though their lawyer that they "look forward" to going to trial.

Hang Bin Li and Ying Li were reportedly arrested months after their daughter, Annie, died in October 2007 from brain damage which doctors say were sustained from Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Hang Bin Li, 23, reportedly faces life in prison if convicted at trial on murder charges and Ying Li is looking at up to 25 years if convicted for manslaughter.

"You want to proceed with a trial and reject the offer?" Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard Buchter asked Hang Bin Li.

"Yes," he sad through a Mandarin interpreter.

If baby Annie's father reportedly accepted the prosecutor’s offer then Ying Li, 22, would have been offered a plea deal as well.

"We look forward to going to trial," said Ying Li's attorney Murray Singer, who along with attorney Cedric Ashley intend to prove that the two-month old suffered from osteoporosis imperfecta, a condition that can cause weak bones.

Jury selection reportedly begins October 15.

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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 New York, Shaken baby syndrome simulator baby arrives at Family Counseling Service | Shaken Baby Syndrome

Article excerpt obtained - Click Here

If you continually shake a baby to get the child to stop crying, you might succeed — as well as cause brain damage.

That scenario is what Family Counseling Service of Northern New York’s new shaken baby syndrome simulator shows when the baby’s head isn’t supported and is jerked around.

“People don’t realize how easily you can damage a baby’s brain,” Family Counseling CEO Collene D. Alexander said. “People may throw the baby in the air in their hands a little, and while the baby may laugh, it could still damage the brain.”

The simulator, which staff has named Christian, looks and feels like a real baby. Its head, however, is clear so that people can see which parts of the brain are affected by different ways the baby is shaken. After the baby is shaken in constant motion, different parts of the brain will light up to show whether vision, memory, emotion or the ability to speak and hear would be affected.

According to information from Realityworks, the maker of the simulator baby, shaken baby syndrome is a form of abusive head trauma that causes brain injury, bleeding at the back of the eyes, swelling of the brain and other injuries. Someone found to have shaken a baby, causing injury or death, may be charged with assault on a child or child homicide.

Christian will be introduced into Family Counseling’s Nurturing Parents program after she has an introduction with the Jefferson County Department of Social Services this week. The shaken baby simulator is the only one of its kind at Family Counseling Service, although there are a few other simulator babies used in the Nurturing Parents program. Those simulators are more lifelike, and they can record when a baby is changed, cries, is fed or is neglected.

Mrs. Alexander said the Nurturing Parents program is designed to teach parents and children from low-income populations who are at high risk for child abuse and maltreatment.

Christian cost $812 and was purchased with a $750 grant from Stewart’s Holiday Match and some agency funds. Mrs. Alexander said when the shaken baby simulator was ordered she was unaware of different simulators, such as ones about fetal alcohol syndrome and the effects that pregnant women taking drugs has on babies.

If and when funding allows, Mrs. Alexander said, she’d like to add them to the Nurturing Parents program as well.

After Family Counseling’s program gets going, Mrs. Alexander said, she also hopes community agencies contract with it to educate more people about parenting practices.

Agencies that would like to set up a demonstration of how each simulator baby works can call Family Counseling Service at 782-4483.

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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 New York, Chemung County woman accused of shaking baby, who later died | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A Chemung County woman is reportedly accused of shaking her 16-month-old boy to death over the weekend.

Nicole M. Freeman, 27, of Wyncoop Creek Road, Van Etten, had reportedly been charged felony reckless assault of a child after the incident Friday, troopers said.

The baby, Jason Shappee, was reportedly pronounced dead at a Danville, Pa. medical center Saturday morning.

Freeman is reportedly accused of causing a fatal brain injury by shaking her son. She is being held at the Chemung County Jail on $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond. The district attorney's office is reviewing the case and will likely add additional charges in light of the baby's death, troopers 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 New York, Elmhurst father, 27, charged with shaking baby daughter | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A 2-month-old baby has reportedly been on life support since her father allegedly shook her twice within the span of a month, causing severe injuries throughout her body, the Queens district attorney’s office said.


Israel Garcia, 27, of 41st Avenue near 95th Street in Elmhurst, was reportedly arraigned on charges of assault and endangering the welfare of a child in Queens Criminal Court May 30, the DA said. Since the baby, Maria Gordillo, is so severely injured, Garcia’s charges would be increased if she dies, the DA said.

Garcia’s first alleged incident of harm to his baby reportedly occurred early in May after he had come home in a tired and frustrated state, the DA said. Garcia heard Maria crying and then allegedly grabbed her, squeezed her around her torso and then moved her repeatedly up and down, the DA said. He allegedly told the authorities that he thought he broke Maria’s ribs but did not inform anyone, the DA said.

The baby reportedly required serious medical attention after May 28, the DA said. Garcia had been alone with Maria and, after waking up from a nap, she started to cry, the DA said. Garcia allegedly grabbed her and shook her for three minutes until she was quiet and seemed to go back to sleep, the DA said. When Maria would not wake up again, Garcia called 911, the DA said.

Maria was reportedly taken to Elmhurst Center Hospital that same day, and later to New York University Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, the DA said. Maria’s injuries included bleeding on the brain in multiple places, retinal hemorrhages in her left eye, brain injuries from trauma and oxygen deprivation, many old rib fractures and bruises on her left foot and back.

These injuries are reportedly consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome and could result in her death, the DA said.

Garcia, who has reportedly been held without bail, faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted, the DA said. His next court date is June 11, the DA said.

District Attorney Richard Brown reportedly said in a statement that his office has been seeing too many cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome despite health providers and law enforcement agencies making greater efforts to educate new parents.

“We are still seeing far too many cases of children dying or being permanently disabled, both mentally and physically, at the hands of their caregivers. Under no circumstances should a baby be shaken,” Brown said. “Three seconds of shaking is all it takes to cause irreparable injury or even death.”

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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 New York, Mother gets 10 years for shaking baby to death | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A Far Rockaway mother was reportedly sentenced to 10 years in prison for violently shaking her 7-month-old daughter, who later died of the injuries she sustained, District Attorney Richard Brown said.

According to Brown, Nyemah Nickens, 21, repeatedly shook her crying daughter Nyla Nickens while reportedly  at her boyfriend’s house until the infant stopped crying. Around 5 a.m. the next morning, Brown said, Nickens heard her daughter make a crying sound and was in an abnormal condition.

Upon visiting the hospital, it was reportedly determined that the infant suffered a serious brain injury, Brown said. Though the baby underwent a procedure to relieve pressure on her skull, Brown said she succumbed to her injury four days later, which was consistent with the non-accidental trauma of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

“For those who do not believe that shaking a baby can cause serious and irreparable injury or even death, this case, and the defendant’s confession, is a grim reminder that caretakers and parents can and do shake children to death,” Brown said.

Nickens reportedly pleaded guilty last month to first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter.

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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 New York, Baby dies of shaken baby syndrome | Shaken Baby Syndrome

An empty home and a rattled neighborhood. That's what's reportedly left after police say 27-year-old Nicole Freeman shook her 16-month-old baby to death.

It reportedly happened last Wednesday, but little Jason Shappee succumbed to his brain injuries at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania Saturday.

"There was bleeding in the retinas, different diagnoses that way, they were able to determine that would be the cause of that," NYSP Investigator Karl Aepelbacher.

The news of the toddler's death has left some neighbors disheartened.

"I can't understand how someone could do that to their own flesh and blood. I have two daughters of my own and it appalls me to think that someone could do that to their own child," said neighbor Rick Bailey.

"It makes me sick. I don't know how anybody could do that to a kid, no matter what the kid does. Especially a baby. No kid deserves anything like that," said neighbor Katie Elia.

Other neighbors who did not want to speak on camera told us they've called the Child Protective Services hotline about Freeman.

But her next door neighbor reportedly insists she's a good person that's simply been dealt a bad hand.

Freeman is being held in Chemung County Jail on $50,000 bail.

She reportedly has an older daughter, who's currently staying with family members.

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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 New York, Queens Creep Admits To Shaking 2-Month-Old Daughter For Three Full Minutes; Baby Currently On Life-Support | Shaken Baby Syndrome

*Excerpt taken from HERE

Remember all those PSAs reminding people to "never shake a baby?" Well, there was a reason for those ads -- shaking a baby is incredibly dangerous (not to mention cruel and sick), a reality that a Queens baby, who currently is fighting for her life, learned the hard way.

Just to make this story slightly more despicable, the baby is only 2 months old.

According to the Queens District Attorney's Office, the baby's father, 27-year-old Israel Garcia, admitted to shaking the baby on several occasions. On Monday, he took his baby-shaking too far, and his daughter is now on life-support at a local hospital with bleeding to the brain and other life-threatening injuries.

Queens County District Attorney Richard Brown says the baby -- Maria Grodillo, who was born on March 12 -- was taken to the emergency room at Elmhurst Medical Center on Monday in an "unresponsive condition." Maria was then taken to New York University Hospital, where it was determined that she was suffering from multiple subdural hematomas (bleeding on the brain), retinal hemorrhages in the left eye (bleeding in the eye), old and new brain injuries (resulting from trauma and oxygen deprivation to the brain), multiple old rib fractures and various bruises on her left foot and back.

Doctors determined that the injuries were consistent with "non-accidental inflicted abuse head trauma," which includes Shaken Baby Syndrome. The rib fractures were determined to be consistent with an adult grabbing her and squeezing her rib cage.

According to the criminal complaint, Garcia admitted to police that earlier this month he came home from work "tired and frustrated." When his infant daughter started crying, it sent him over the edge, so he squeezed her around her torso and shook her up and down. He told police he thought he might have injured Maria's ribs at the time, but declined to tell anyone.

Garcia also admitted that on Monday he was alone with Maria when she woke up from a nap and started to cry. Rather than acting like a parent and comforting the girl, he shook her for three minutes -- until she stopped crying and appeared to go to sleep.

Maria wasn't sleeping, though, she just stopped breathing thanks to the attack from her own father.

Noticing that something was wrong, Garcia then called 911.

"According to the charges, the infant suffered severe brain and eye injuries, multiple rib fractures and various bruises on her left foot and back," Brown says. "Despite increased efforts by medical and law enforcement personnel to educate the public on the dangers of shaking a baby, we are still seeing far too many cases of children dying or being permanently disabled, both mentally and physically, at the hands of their care givers. Under no circumstances should a baby be shaken. Three seconds of shaking is all it takes to cause irreparable injury or even death." 

Garcia's been hit with one count each of first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He was ordered held without bail. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

Brown also notes that if Maria dies, the charges against Garcia would be upgraded.

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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