Unlicensed Chicago Day Care Provider Killed 4-Month-Old Baby Girl Who Vomited On Bed, Prosecutors Claim
An unlicensed child care provider in Chicago is accused of killing a newborn baby girl who was in her care, authorities said.
Norma Chagnama, 29, faces a murder charge in connection with the death of 4-month-old Zury Cruz Sumba on Feb. 16, NBC Chicago reported.
Emergency responders called to a residence in the Albany Park neighborhood around 4:30 p.m. found the newborn unresponsive, fire officials said.
Chagnama phoned the baby’s mother, who arrived home and began CPR after finding her daughter with “arms limp by her sides and unresponsive,” prosecutors said.
The baby reportedly suffered a large subdural hematoma and spinal cord injuries, among other issues, and she was pronounced dead at Swedish Covenant Hospital. Her death was ruled a homicide.
- A Babysitter Said She Took The Toddler She Was Watching For A Stroll. She's Now Charged With Murder, Cops Say.
- Woman gave birth in bathtub and suffocated the baby, cops said. She then allegedly buried the child in the backyard.
- California Mother Accused of Acting Erratically, Murdering 4-Month-Old Daughter: Cops
According to prosecutors, the child vomited, and Chagnama “forcefully picked up Zury from the bed, with hands under the infant’s buttocks but not supporting her head.”
The babysitter then allegedly “forcefully swung Zury onto her shoulder, patted her on the back, and threw her onto the bed,” prosecutors claimed in a proffer. “She then appeared to have more trouble breathing.”
Defense attorney Niklas Lofgren said his client, Chagnama, was attempting to save the vomiting child and called the infant’s death “very unfortunate and disastrous,” WTTW reported.
“We’re not sure exactly what happened,” he said. “This was not an attempt to injure a child, this was not an attempt to cause any damage.”
Chagnama was being held without bond.
Become a Front Page Detective
Sign up to receive breaking
Front Page Detectives
news and exclusive investigations.