Marysville daycare provider indicted in infant’s death

A Marysville woman has been indicted on two felony charges related to the death last year of an infant in her care.

Hayley Breann Rausch, 23, of the 20000 block of Wolford Maskill Road, faces charges of reckless homicide and child endangering in the death of 8-month-old Taylor Weber, who was one of eight children she was caring for in her home.

According to authorities, Rausch was alone in her home Jan. 24 when she noticed that the infant was unresponsive.

She called 911 and an ambulance took the child to an emergency room, where she later died.

Union County Coroner David Applegate said Rausch’s account of the incident was inconsistent with medical evidence. “The description of how the baby was found, as told by the babysitter, was inconsistent with the condition of the baby,” Applegate said.

“Things weren’t adding up to what she was saying, said Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Stiers, who added that Rausch had been running a daycare for about a year.

Each charge is a thirddegree felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine, said David Phillips, Union County prosecutor.

“You have an obligation to provide a safe environment, and one person can only do so much,” Phillips said.

“There’s no indication that Ms. Rausch intended for this death, but I think it could have been avoided.”