NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Three years ago, Laura Jay said she received a phone call from her son's babysitter saying he had fallen out of a swing, hit his head and was unresponsive. The baby, 3-month-old Reid Jay, was treated at the hospital and released.
Doctors told his parents to keep an eye on him and bring him back if they noticed anything abnormal.
Jay said that night, her son started to scream and vomit. When the family brought him back to the hospital doctors, did a CT scan and found two ages of blood in his brain. Doctors told Laura Jay that her baby Reid had been shaken. Reid was in the PICU at CHKD for 12 days. .
Police pressed charges against the babysitter, Shannon Sampson. Jay said she cared for Reid Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every week.
Due to Reid's injuries, the family was concerned the effects would be permanent. They had to monitor him closely but after 3 years he appears to be a happy and healthy 3 year old.
The case went to trial and wrapped up on Wednesday. Sampson was convicted of felony child abuse and faces jail time. Her sentencing is July 1st. After reaching out to her attorney, we have not heard back.
Jay told NewsChannel 3 that she and her new babysitter Kelly Magovero want to warn other moms about situations like this one. They said they hope to start a child abuse registry so that people who have been charged with child abuse or neglect can be exposed to parents before they are hired for childcare.
