How Could You? Hall of Shame -Debbie Decarvalho and Mario Leone UPDATED

“The infant was rushed to Norwalk Hospital July 2, 2010 where doctors determined the baby had been the victim of shaken baby syndrome, according to police.”

“They turned themselves in to Westport Police Thursday.

Update: “Following an investigation, on Jan. 19 Westport Police charged Debbie C. DeCarvalho, 42, of 1040 Post Rd. East, with five counts of risk of injury to child and one count of first-degree assault; and Mario Leone Jr., 38, of the same address, with one count each of risk of injury to a child and first-degree assault.

Both charges are felonies.

Appearing before Judge Bruce Hudock, they pleaded not guilty and had their cases continued to February  25, 2011.”

“Last July 2, an emergency department supervisor at Norwalk Hospital contacted Westport Police reporting a woman was there with an infant she said had a “seizure like episode,” and upon examination, a physician found had “bleeding on the brain” and a possible skull fracture.

In a sworn affidavit to obtain arrest warrants for DeCarvalho and Leone, Det. Sereniti Dobson said the examining physician, Dr. Berger, said the infant had no external bruising or lacerations, but had injuries “indicative” of shaken baby syndrome.

Dobson says DeCarvalho told her she had cared for the child for approximately three weeks and when she was changing him on the changing table, “his arms tightened up; then became flaccid and he showed signs that he was having trouble breathing.”

“DeCarvalho allegedly stated she is the sole caretaker of the four children, and that she runs a dog grooming business in her home and uses baby monitors to watch what the children are doing while she is working.”

“Dobson says that during an interview with Leone, he said he believed something “freaky” must have happened to cause the baby’s injuries, and suggested one of the other children in their care “must have done something.”

“Leone expressed that the (redacted) old had always been jealous of the baby,” Dobson says.
She says when she asked Leone if the baby had accidently fallen, he told her he had fallen off the coach “a while ago.”

“Leon stated DeCarvalho picked him back up and put him back on the coach,” Dobson says.
Dobson says the baby was discharged from the Westchester Medical Center in New York last July 12 diagnosed with brain injuries “consistent with a traumatic event consisting of shaking impact,” and a right-sided, non-depressed skull fracture.

DeCarvalho was released after posting combined $50,000 cash bonds, and Leone was released after posting a $25,000 cash bond.”

Accused Baby Assaulters Arraigned, Plead Not Guilty
[Wesport Patch 2/3/11 by Harold F. Cobin]

Her dog grooming business can be seen in this pdf from 2007

Debbie’s next court date is scheduled for November 18, 2011 at Stamford Judicial District Courthouse according to Docket FST -CR11-0128126-T and Mario’s next court date is also November 18, 2011 according to Docket FST -CR11-0128125-T, accessed from the State of Connecticut judicial branch search.

Update 2/July 18, 2013: No more media articles were found. A search of public Connecticut court records show that on 12/16/11 she pled guilty to the Felony C count of risk of injury to a child and was sentencing to 6 years in prison, execution suspended! and 5 years probation. She also pled guilty to a Felony D count of  Assault 2 -intent serious physical injury and was sentenced to 5 years, execution suspened and 5 years probation!

She is still in the pet grooming business as her name is on a March 25, 2013 BILL for unlicensed groomers and pet boarding facilities! . See http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/JFR/H/2013HB-05799-R00ENV-JFR.htm

Mario Leone, Jr. no longer has a case in the court records.

Connecticut is something else! You can plead GUILTY to TWO felonies and get out of jail and help craft legislation!

REFORM Puzzle Piece