Jun 10, 2016 3 min read

A former babysitter accused of injuring an infant she was caring for was arrested Friday by North Strabane Township police on charges including aggravated assault.

Jennifer Lynn Stevens, 37, formerly of Hickory, is also charged with endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment.

Police Investigator Nathan Terling was contacted last month after the girl, who is now 4 months old, was taken to the hospital for what is termed in court documents as “an acute life-threatening event.” The infant was found to have healing rib injuries as well as an acute rib fracture.

Terling received a report from a doctor at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC the baby had healing rib fractures of at least two different ages that were about four to six weeks old. The girl also had acute rib fractures that likely occurred about three weeks before she was admitted to Children’s on April 27. The doctor told Terling the fractures were caused by physical abuse.

Everyone who had contact with the girl was interviewed by Terling with the exception of Stevens. The girl’s parents told Terling that Stevens had watched their daughter four times and the doctor indicated those dates were in the time frame when the injuries occurred.

When Terling found Stevens in her vehicle outside her former home, she reportedly told him she did not remember making an appointment to be interviewed.

Stevens told police she thought there was an accident while she was watching the child. She told Terling she was carrying the infant down the stairs when she fell and indicated she squeezed the girl with her hands to keep her from getting hurt. During the interview, Stevens reportedly told Terling it happened four different times.

During her arraignment Friday morning before District Judge Jay Weller, Stevens told the judge she had just been released after spending 24 days in a hospital for mental health treatment. She told Weller she was released because her parents, who live in Montana, agreed to care for her.

“This is a very, very serious crime,” Weller told her. “You can’t leave Pennsylvania.”

“I am concerned about your safety and the safety of others,” he added, as she tearfully told him she just wanted to get better.

“There are extenuating circumstances with mental health concerns,” Weller said. “I just want to be fair.”

Stevens was placed in Washington County jail on $100,000 bond set by Weller. She faces a preliminary hearing before Weller June 20.