Foster mom convicted of abusing a two-year old
PAWTUCKET – A Superior Court jury has convicted a foster mother of abusing a twoyear-old boy in her care in April 2014.
The jury convicted city resident Shamika Ramos, 31, on one count of second-degree child abuse after a four-day trial on Tuesday, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin announced.
Police launched an investigation after doctors at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, on April 30, 2014, discovered that the boy was suffering from a head injury known as a subgaleal hematoma, which is characterized by the scalp being torn away from the skull bone.
Detectives called Ramos in for questioning to try to find out how the child was injured. She insisted the child had been sleeping during the window of time doctors theorized the injuries occurred and that nothing unusual happened, according to Detective Susan Cormier’s report.
At one point, Ramos suggested to Cormier that the injuries might have been caused by an “allergic reaction” of some sort.
“Due to the fact that she continued to deny any responsibility for the injuries, could offer no reasonable explanation, and wished to terminate the interview, no formal statement was taken from her…” the report says.
Doctors told police, however, that subgaleal hematomas a typically caused when the victim’s is dragged or pulled forcefully by the hair.
An examination of the boy also revealed substantial trauma around the ears, including a wound that appeared to match a unique gap
in Ramos’ teeth, according to police reports. Cormier reported that Ramos had consented to a lie detector test when she was first called in for questioning, but balked after the detective brought up “the fact that the injury pattern was very similar to her front teeth.”
Dr. Christine Barron, the director of the Child Safe Program at the hospital’s Lawrence A. Aubin Child Protection Center, was among the witnesses who testified for the state.
“Dr. Barron testified that the subgaleal hematoma was an acute injury and was inflicted upon the two-yearold within 12-14 hours from the time the child was evaluated at Hasbro Children’s Hospital,” Kilmartin’s office said. “It became apparent that the injuries were inflicted rather than accidental when the child was brought to the hospital.”
Other witnesses corroborated Barron, testifying about events that had occurred while Ramos was alone with the child in the hours before his injuries became apparent.
Detective Cormier led the investigation and State Prosecutors Shannon Signore and Siobhan Bogosian argued the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.
Ramos, who has been free on bail since May 2014, is to be sentenced on Sept. 19.
The crime of second-degree child abuse is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.
Originally indicted on the more grievous offense of first-degree child abuse, Ramos has no prior criminal history, according to the judiciary’s web site.