By Rebecca Henely
A 26-year-old Corona woman allegedly shook her 21-month-old nephew, who was recently entrusted to her care, and caused brain damage, the Queens district attorney’s office said.
The woman, Susana Gil, of 103rd Street and 34th Avenue, was arrested Jan. 5 and later arraigned on Jan. 6 in Queens Criminal Court on charges of assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Queens DA Richard Brown said. She was held on $25,000 bail.
Gil, who became baby Alexander Delgado’s primary caregiver Nov. 1 is Alexander’s paternal aunt, the DA said.
On Dec. 27after being in her care for almost two months, Alexander was crying and Gil allegedly grabbed him by his arms and shook him, the DA said. Alexander stopped crying and seemed to go to sleep, the DA said.
During the next few days, Alexander appeared to become sick, the DA said. From Dec. 27 to Dec. 31, Alexander was lethargic and vomited many times, Brown said. On Dec. 31 at about 10 a.m., Alexander had trouble breathing and then became unresponsive, the DA said. Gil then called her husband at work. He arrived around noon and called 911, the DA said.
Alexander, who remained unresponsive, was taken to Elmhurst General Hospital and then Cohen Children’s Medical Center, the DA said. Examiners at the center found Alexander had severe brain injuries, the DA said.
The DA said the injuries are attributable to shaken baby syndrome, a form of child abuse.
“Instead of protecting and nurturing this helpless, innocent child, the defendant is accused of tragically assaulting him simply because he was crying,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. “Beyond that, the defendant is alleged to have compounded the damage by failing to get medical attention for the child until approximately four days later. This case is, once again, a sad reminder that never, under any circumstances, should an infant be shaken.”
Under the charges, Gil faces up to 25 years in prison if she is convicted, the DA said.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
