(Anita) Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas said charges have been filed against Alison E. Dorsey, 36, of Anita, for causing the death of an 11 week old newborn, L.H.
L.H. sustained internal bleeding resulting in brain death, while in the sole care and custody of Dorsey at her daycare on October 7, 2019. L.H. died on October 8, 2019.
Medical evidence revealed the injuries causing death were inflicted and non-accidental, commonly called shaken baby syndrome. Onset of brain hemorrhaging would have been immediate.
Dorsey has been charged with Murder in the 1st Degree and Child Endangerment Resulting in Death. She was held on $250,000 bond.
According to the complaints filed: On October 7, 2019, LH was dropped off at a daycare located at 408 Pine Street in Massena. The owner/operator of this daycare is Alison Dorsey. LH’s father, Nicholas, advised that he dropped off LH at approximately 7:48 a.m. and LH was a normal, healthy baby at the time of drop off. LH’s mother, Kaitlin, also advised that she sent a normal, healthy baby with Nicholas to daycare that morning. Nicholas advised that he received a phone call from Alison Dorsey just before 11:00 a.m. on October 7th to tell him that LH wasn’t breathing right and wouldn’t eat. Nicholas advised that he only works a few blocks away and so he left work to go to Dorsey’s daycare to help feed LH. Nicholas advised that Alison answered the door while holding LH in her arms. Nicholas stated that LH looked grey and didn’t appear to be breathing. Nicholas advised that he immediately started CPR and told Alison to call 911. LH was subsequently transferred to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
It was discovered that LH had severe brain hemorrhages, retinal hemorrhages and retinal tearing. LH died as a result of the brain hemorrhaging on October 8, 2019, at approximately 9:10 p.m. at Children’s Hospital in Omaha. Doctors with Children’s Hospital advised that LH’s injures are consistent with shaken baby syndrome. The doctors with Children’s Hospital explained LH had injuries that appeared to be the result of inflicted abusive head trauma. Doctors at Children’s Hospital explained that the injuries LH had are too severe to be caused by a fall off a table or by another child. In the doctor’s written assessments, it states, “In a child with injuries this severe, he would have near-immediate symptoms after his injury”. The doctors also said that with the injuries LH had, he would not have been able to eat or be attentive after the injuries occurred.
Alison Dorsey was the only adult providing care for LH at the daycare on October 7th from when he was dropped off until Nicholas arrived and Dorsey called 911.
