A St. Paul teenager faces a murder charge after a child she was babysitting died from injuries sustained while in her care, according to a criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court.
Tyanna Jabree Graham, 19, was charged Tuesday with unintentional second-degree murder in the infant’s death, the criminal complaint said.
Police responded to a home on the 2200 block of West Seventh early Saturday morning on a report that a child wasn’t breathing.
The 5-month-old boy was taken by ambulance to Children’s Hospital, where hospital staff determined he had suffered a severe brain injury. The boy’s “eyes were dilated and he was completely unresponsive,” the complaint said.
The child, Jamir P. Dunagan, died Jan. 29. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner determined that traumatic head injuries due to “physical assault” that caused bleeding in his brain were to blame. The boy also had bruises and bleeding on his left lung and a cut on his lip.
“These injuries are classic findings for abusive head trauma and child abuse,” according to the charges.
His parents could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
When interviewed by police about what happened, Graham reportedly gave conflicting accounts. First she said the child had fallen from the couch and was having trouble breathing when she called 911, the complaint said. Later she said his injuries might have occurred when she dropped him after tripping over a ball.
She eventually admitted to being frustrated that she had to care for the child when she wanted to go out and might have “blacked out” and shaken him for 3 to 5 seconds while she was in that state, charges say.
Police examined her cellphone and found text messages sent Friday that illustrated her frustration.
One read, “I’m getting irritated my baby keeps waking up. He being a big … crybaby… I am been dealing with (this) all day I just closed the door but I still hear him and it’s irritating me I never let him cry.”
Graham has no criminal record in Minnesota.
The boy’s death marks the third homicide in St. Paul this year.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following advice to caregivers overwhelmed with crying babies.
- Understand that infant crying is worse in the first few months of life, but it will get better as the child grows.
- Try calming a crying baby by rocking gently, offering a pacifier, singing or talking softly, taking a walk with a stroller, or going for a drive in the car.
- If the baby won’t stop crying, check for signs of illness and call the doctor if you suspect the child is sick.
- If you are getting upset or losing control, focus on calming yourself down. Put the baby in a safe place and walk away to calm down, checking on the baby every 5 to 10 minutes.
- Call a friend, relative, neighbor, or parent helpline for support.
- Never leave your baby with a person who is easily irritated or has a temper or history of violence.
The CDC also offers advice to family and friends of new caregivers to ensure their well-being as well as his or her child’s.
- Be aware of new parents in your family and community who may need help or support.
- Provide support by offering to give a parent or caregiver a break when needed.
- Let the parent know that dealing with a crying baby can be very frustrating—especially when you are tired or stressed, but that infant crying is normal and will get better.
- Encourage parents and caregivers to take a calming break if needed while the baby is safe in the crib.
- Be sensitive and supportive in situations when parents are trying to calm a crying baby.
- Be supportive of work policies, such as paid family leave, that make it easier for working parents to stay with their infants during the first few months of child’s life.