A 26-year-old woman operating an illegal daycare has been charged with child abuse following an 8-month-old boy being taken to hospital due to life-threatening brain injuries he received at the childcare center, the authorities reported.
Brooke Ashley Reiner, owner of Sunrise to Sunset Home Child Care, was charged with two counts of intentional child abuse involving serious bodily harm and one charge of operating an illegal daycare leading to the serious bodily injury, the Smithfield Police Department reports.
The criminal activity was first reported by WakeMed in Raleigh on July 6 as the infant was admitted to the hospital with severe head injuries that were not an accident, according to Law&Crime, citing the probable cause affidavit.
According to the indictment obtained by People, Reiner slammed the baby on the changing table with enough force to cause brain bleeding, midline shift, and hemispheric disconnection. Reiner also hit the child in the face, head, and abdomen several times, as cited in the documents by ABC11.
The boy underwent emergency surgery at WakeMed and remained in the hospital in critical condition, as per ABC11. The boy has little chance of survival, Law&Crime cites.
Initially, Reiner claimed that the child woke up from the nap and started having seizures when she changed his diaper, the arrest affidavit, which Law&Crime cites, claims.
The investigation was conducted at Reiner’s house located on Cloverdale Drive, where she operated the daycare. She was arrested following the interviews during the search, according to Tampa Free Press. Reiner was booked into Johnston County Jail with a $5 million secured bond.
Reiner wrote on social media in 2024 that she opened the daycare to take care of her own child and get the license, according to Raleigh News & Observer, as cited by Law&Crime.
Reiner was indicted this month by a grand jury, and the accused’s next court appearance is scheduled for early August, as reported by the Inquisitr.
Anyone with information related to the crime should contact the Smithfield Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 919-934-2738.
The charges are only allegations, and Reiner is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
