New York Toddler Dies After Babysitter Violently Strikes Boy's Head On Coffee Table

A babysitter in Mattydale, New York, was charged with manslaughter Thursday for killing a toddler by striking the boy’s head on a coffee table.

Onondaga County sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Jon Seeber said the accused, identified as 24-year-old Jessica Sims, called 911 on July 17, 2019 and informed that the 23-month-old boy she was babysitting had struck his head to the floor after falling from a chair. When the responding officers arrived at the woman’s apartment, they found the boy, Lennox Santiago, lying unconscious. They rushed the boy to a nearby hospital where he underwent an emergency brain surgery and died two days later.

During the eight-month-long investigation, officers questioned Sims several times but “her story changed on several occasions.” She finally admitted to striking the child’s head on a coffee table. Three other children were at her apartment when the incident took place. There was, however, no information available on why she committed the crime.

Sims was charged with manslaughter and her bond was set at $100,000. She remained in jail as of Monday night and was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the victim’s obituary had stated that he “passed away peacefully... after twenty three happy months” and that “he had an infectious smile and radiated love to everyone he met.”