THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503260146
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B8 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
A babysitter was charged with murder Saturday, one day after a child she had been caring for died.
Police said the 11-month-old girl, who had been hospitalized since Tuesday, died from injuries sustained after being severely shaken. Her identity was not released to protect the family.
The sitter, Penny Peterson, 33, was being held in the city jail in lieu of bond.
Police spokesman Richard Black said rescue crews were called to Peterson's home in the 100 block of Red Oaks Trail about 8:20 a.m. Tuesday for a baby that was having trouble breathing.
The infant was taken to Chesapeake General Hospital and later transferred to intensive care at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk.
On Friday morning, the child was taken off of life support and the infant died at 10:35 a.m.
``An autopsy has confirmed the suspicion that the shaken baby syndrome did induce this death,'' Black said Saturday. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Peterson
KEYWORDS: MURDER CHILD ABUSE ASSAULT SHAKEN
BABY SYNDROME ARREST by CNB