La. babysitter arrested after 3-month-old infant dies of brain bleed and multiple skull fractures

LAKE CHARLES, La. (TCN) -- Authorities recently arrested a 40-year-old woman after an infant in her care died from severe brain injuries.

According to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 22, deputies responded to a local hospital in reference to an unresponsive 3-month-old baby, identified by KPLC-TV as Kairo Anderson.

Investigators discovered the infant suffered a massive brain bleed and multiple skull fractures believed to be consistent with trauma. Anderson was airlifted to a different hospital and died from his injuries.

According to the sheriff's office, Shirley Sawyer was caring for the baby at the time. Kairo Anderson's mother, Symone Anderson, reportedly said when she arrived at Sawyer's home, "she believed the baby to be asleep, but a short time later, discovered the child was limp and unresponsive." Symone Anderson then rushed the infant to the hospital.

On Feb. 3, detectives issued a warrant for Sawyer and arrested her on a charge of first-degree murder. She remains held in the Calcasieu Correctional Center on $2.5 million bond.

Symone Anderson told KPLC, "I’m just happy that my baby can rest now in peace."

She added, "I’ve been knowing this girl Sawyer for a minute, and I couldn’t believe it. Like, you smiled in my face, and you killed my baby behind my back."

Anderson reportedly moved to Louisiana from California to help care for her mother and give birth to the victim, but she had plans to return to California this month with her son.

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