FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – According to court documents, a little boy had only been in the care of his babysitter for two days before he was rushed to the hospital. Formal charges were filed against 23-year-old Nicole Cakora Wednesday. She’s charged with neglect of a dependent causing serious bodily injury and battery of a minor causing serious bodily injury.
In a probable cause affidavit, it said the mother of the 11-month-old victim told police she dropped her son off at Cakora’s house for daycare around 7:00 a.m. on August 2. Just after 12:30 that day the mother said she texted Cakora asking if the boy was giving her a hard time because she said he was fussy the evening before. The mother said then she got a call from Cakora saying the boy was outside playing when he fell off a slide. She said Cakora told her he cried for about 30 minutes then he was put down for a nap.
When Cakora went back to check on him, she told the mother he was not waking up. However, she told the mother it was fine because his lips weren’t purple. The mother continued to tell police that that is when she requested a video or picture of her son from Cakora. Cakora sent her a quick video of her son, which police described in the court documents as ‘disturbing.’ In the video, the police officer said the boy was partially conscious and struggling to breath. The mother then ordered Cakora to call an ambulance.
While at the hospital the doctor found the boy had bleeding on both sides of his brain. The first doctor the boy saw said the injuries were not consistent with what Cakora told the mother had happened. That doctor consulted with a neurologist and the neurologist echoed the original doctor’s belief. A third doctor said the injuries were consistent with non accidental trauma or shaking.
Cakora told police the boy had been going down a slide head first and was unable to get his hands out in front of him to catch the fall, so he landed on this head. Cakora admitted she does not know CPR, but that that is laid out in the contract parents sign.
Cakora’s lawyer, William Lebrato, said Cakora’s daycare was not certified, but because she was watching less than five children at the time she didn’t need to be certified. She is out on bond and is expected back in court on Friday.
The boy’s parents have been in contact with WANE but did not want to participate in an on-camera interview. They said the boy is still in the hospital and is showing signs of improvement, but hasn’t fully woken up. They expect a long road to recovery.