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Sheriff's First Sgt. Liz Scott said deputies went to 10008 Windridge Drive about noon Tuesday in response to a 911 call from a woman who said the infant she was babysitting was unresponsive.
The child, Elijah Lynch-Hobbs, was not breathing when Deputy Larry Dibella arrived. He and Sgt. Tim Bryner performed CPR on the baby until medical personnel got there.
The child was taken to Mary Washington Hospital and then to the VCU Medical Center, where he died yesterday. He suffered bleeding from the brain and retinal hemorrhaging, Scott said, and his death was ruled Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Scott said the babysitter, Larisa Thomas, later told Detective Twyla DeMoranville and others that she shook the baby because he was crying. Elijah and his 2-year-old brother had been at Thomas' home about 30 minutes Tuesday, but Thomas has babysat for the family for several years, police said. Thomas' own children were also in the house at the time, but no one else was hurt.
Thomas, 27, was charged with second-degree murder and felony child neglect. She is being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond.
- Keith Epps, The Free Lance-Star
