Foster-care girl (10) tells police she dropped baby then ‘stamped on his head to stop him crying’

A 10-YEAR-OLD girl charged with killing a six-month-old baby boy told investigators she panicked after dropping the infant, and stamped on the child’s head to stop the crying, a sheriff in Wisconsin said.

Handcuffed and wearing a leather restraint around her waist, the girl sobbed as she appeared in Chippewa County Circuit Court. A judge set bond at $50,000 (€44,000). State law requires the case, at least initially, to be held in adult court.

First responders were called to a home day care on October 30 in the town of Tilden near Chippewa Falls. The baby was found to be unresponsive and bleeding from the head, according to officials. The baby was rushed to a local hospital then airlifted to Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare hospital in St Paul where he died two days later.

Chippewa County Sheriff James Kowalczyk said a doctor told investigators that it was his view that the baby’s injuries were not an accident.

Investigators interviewed four people at the home and the girl, who lives with foster parents at the house, “confessed to her involvement in the situation,” said Mr Kowalczyk.

The girl’s parents were with her in court. Authorities said she had been removed from their home and placed in foster care. The reasons for her removal were not disclosed.