19-month-old Cardell Williamson was pronounced dead after his babysitter Athena Skeeeter apparently “wrestled him to death.” The Bronx woman, who is certified to care for children in the state of New York, claims she was play fighting with Williamson and flipped him on the bed. Shortly after, she says she lifted him by one arm and one leg and threw him to the floor. According to Skeeter, once the child was on the floor, she stepped on him lightly but “didn’t use full force.” She then went on to say, “I then threw my son on top of Cardell and stepped on his stomach three times. Cardell acted different after that.” He began vomiting profusely so she explains that she put the boy in a cold tub of water to cool him down. She left the room to get a chair and when she got back, the room was filled with steam and Cardell’s head was submerged in the water. Police are saying he died from blunt force trauma to the head and torso. He was also found with various burns on his body.

Carlyle Williamson, the father of the young boy, said that was not the first time he had an issue with the sitter. He says that his son came home with a fat lip, bruises and a black eye, causing him to search elsewhere for a new sitter. However, he picked Skeeter in the first place because she not only lived on his block but she had been caring for children “for years” out of her BX apartment. She is now being charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment and is being held with no bail.

Jazlana
Source: NY Times