How Could You? Hall of Shame-Audrey Nicole Hannaford UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Muncie, Indiana, foster parent Audrey Nicole Hannaford, 35, ” has been accused of severely injuring an infant who had been placed in her care.”

She “was arrested Wednesday afternoon, preliminarily charged with aggravated battery and neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to a Muncie Police Department report, the baby boy was 11 weeks old last Dec. 12 when he suffered “severe head trauma by being shaken with violent acceleration and deceleration force” while in Hannaford’s care.

Hannaford and her husband took the baby to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital that day. Physicians there said the infant was suffering from seizures, and he was transferred to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

“Hannaford denied shaking (the baby),” city police investigator Kristofer Swanson wrote. She also said he “did not suffer any falls, he did not roll off of the couch or hit his head any time recently and had not been in any car accidents.”

In December, city police were granted a search warrant to confiscate Hannaford’s cellphone.

State police examined the device, and “there were several chats/text messages indicating Audrey Hannaford was becoming increasingly frustrated with (the baby),” Swanson wrote.

On Oct. 30, she allegedly sent a text message to a friend saying she was “just about to my wit’s end right now.”

The baby “cries constantly and wants to eat every hour but he is not hungry,” the foster mother allegedly wrote.

Later, she added, “I cannot get a moment to myself and I am going crazy. … I am so burnt out on being a mom. I know that sounds awful but I don’t know what to do.”

A few hours before the infant was taken to the hospital, Hannaford accessed a web site offering tips on “what do to do when your child won’t nap.”

Later that afternoon, police said, Hannaford called her husband and urged him to come home, reporting the child was breathing “weird” during a nap.

Upon arriving at the house and observing the baby’s condition, Hannaford’s husband quickly decided to drive the infant to the hospital.

While at the Muncie hospital that night with the baby, Audrey Hannaford did a Google search on “what will brain MRI show,” authorities allege.

The foster mother would later contend she first realized the boy was in distress when she heard a “weird noise” coming from the bassinet where he was napping.

Physicians at Riley reported the child had several injuries associated with”abusive head trauma,” including 40 “intra-retinal hemorrhages.”

An examination in mid-July showed the baby’s brain “has severely atrophied since his injury,” an affidavit said.

The baby’s “brain is not growing, and much of it has been… replaced by fluid,” Tara Harris, a child abuse pediatrician at Riley, told Muncie police.

“His brain cannot process visual information,” the physician wrote.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said Wednesday he had received reports on the case and that formal charges were “forthcoming.”

Hannaford – with no prior criminal record, according to court records – was released from the Delaware County jail on Wednesday after posting a $60,000 bond.”
Muncie foster parent accused of shaking, severely injuring infant

[The Star Press 8/15/18 by Douglas Walker]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update:“After more than three days of testimony, the case of a foster parent accused of severely injuring an 11-week-old boy has been taken under advisement.

Delaware Circuit Court 1 Judge Marianne Vorhees will not render verdicts in the case of Audrey N. Hannaford until after she receives closing statements from attorneys, in writing, to be submitted by Jan. 17.

Hannaford, 36, of Muncie, is charged with aggravated battery and neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury.

Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman –and deputy prosecutors Jagen and Jeffrey Arnold – this week contended the child placed in Hannford’s care suffered severe brain damage due to being shaken.

A rebuttal witness called to the stand Thursday by prosecutors – Sandeep K. Narang of Illinois, a physician and associate professor of pediatrics – testified he disagreed with the testimony of two doctors who earlier suggested blood clots, rather than physical abuse, could have led to the child’s brain damage.

Those witnesses – from Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, respectively – were called to the stand Wednesday by defense attorneys Donald McClellan and Kelly Bryan.

Narang said his investigation of the Delaware County case led him to conclude the Muncie child had suffered “abusive head trauma” caused by shaking.

On Tuesday, a child abuse pediatrician from Indianapolis involved in the child’s treatment at Riley Hospital provided a similar assessment.

Evidence in the case also includes Internet searches, conducted with Hannaford’s phone, in the hours before the child was taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital that included “what to do when your child won’t nap” and “what will brain MRI show.”

Both charges against the Muncie woman are Level 3 felonies carrying maximum 16-year sentences.”

Foster parent’s battery, neglect case under advisement

[The Star Press 11/21/19 by Douglas Walker]