How Could You? Hall of Shame-Prinsess case UPDATED-Child Death

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 Stockton, California, foster parent Paul Teldeschi, 37, was arrested in Belmont on Thursday at a relative’s home. He “was arrested for felony child abuse after his foster daughter wound up in a coma.” ”

Man Arrested after Foster Daughter Falls into Coma[fox 40 4/19/14 by Rina Nakano]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: “The former foster mother to a 10 month old girl who police say was severely beaten says it all could have been avoided.

Foster Mom had Suspicions of Man Accused of Putting Baby in Coma[Fox 40 4/26/14 by Lonnie Wong]

Update 2:“Doctors and medical personnel who have examined a critically injured 11-month-old Stockton foster child believe the baby is the victim of “a clear-cut case of shaken baby syndrome” according to a search warrant affidavit from April 22.

Paul Teldeschi, 37, is in county jail on multiple child abuse charges after his foster daughter suffered cardiac arrest on March 30 in his Cleveland Street home. According to the affidavit, Teldeschi was home alone and placed the child in a swing so he could begin preparing dinner. The baby, suffering from bleeding on the brain, suddenly vomited, and went into cardiac arrest. Teldeschi administered CPR and called 911.

The baby, identified in the affidavit as Prinsess, was later airlifted to Oakland Children’s Hospital, where doctors found she also suffered from 13 broken ribs that they believe were caused seven to 10 days prior to the cardiac arrest, a broken clavicle and a traumatic spinal injury “like the victim had been bent in half.”

Doctors told police the “amount of force needed to see these types of injuries might be seen in a vehicle accident,” but that there hadn’t been a crash, the affidavit states. One doctor told police he believed the child was the victim of at least two violent attacks.

The brain bleeding, doctors say consistently throughout the detective’s report in the affidavit, was caused by shaking. In shaken baby cases, injuries are found all around the brain. If it were blunt force trauma, the injury would have only been in one area, the report explains.

A doctor who examined Prinsess also told police that the bleeding on the brain had to have occurred just prior to the 911 call, because there was a lack of symptoms reported by the foster parents and family members who had watched the children on a couple of occasions.

In early April, and prior to Paul Teldeschi’s arrest, Child Protective Services removed three other children from the Teldeschi home – one foster child and two biological children of Paul and Christine Teldeschi. The children were each given medical exams and X-rays.

According to the affidavit, the second foster child and the Teldeschis’ biological daughter showed no signs of injury. The Teldeschis’ 1-year-old son, however, did have a broken arm and broken finger and neither had been medically treated. A CPS nurse told police that the type of fracture the boy suffered “was common in childhood and not necessarily indicative of child abuse.”

The affidavit states that Christine Teldeschi, who is employed by The Record, has continued to cooperate with police in their investigation. Christine Teldeschi, who said she has filed for divorce, had expressed concerns with doctors that Prinsess had some developmental delays and was seeking physical therapy services for her, according to the affidavit.

Over the few months that the Teldeschis had the foster children in their home, Paul Teldeschi was the primary caregiver. He was not employed. During early intervention sessions with the child for developmental disabilities, one social worker told police Paul Teldeschi was “creepy” and “when one of the children dropped something, he would pick it up and then slammed it when he gave it back to the child. There was also a time when the brother was crying and Paul got in his face and told him to ‘knock it off,’ ” according to the affidavit. The social worker thought the behavior was “more than simply being firm,” the affidavit said.

The affidavit mentions two instances when Prinsess was dropped, but neither appeared harmful. Once, Christine Teldeschi said she stumbled and fell while holding the child. Prinsess didn’t appear injured and was consoled easily. A second time was when the early intervention teacher dropped the child about five inches off the ground.

Prinsess is still in critical condition at the Oakland Children’s Hospital. Doctors do not expect her to survive. Paul Teldeschi is expected to appear in San Joaquin County Superior court for arraignment Tuesday.”

Injuries of foster child are detailed[Record Net 4/26/14 by Keith Reid]

Update 3: “An 11-month-old Stockton girl who was allegedly abused by a foster parent has died as a result of her injuries, authorities said.

Paul Teldeschi, 37, of Stockton is being held at San Joaquin County Jail on multiple child abuse charges and could face an added charge of homicide in connection with the girl’s death, said Officer Joe Silva, a spokesman for the Stockton Police Department.

“I can confirm that the baby has died from her injuries,” Silva said. “Detectives are waiting for the autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and what additional charges will be filed.”

According to a search warrant affidavit, doctors and medical personnel who examined the baby believe she was the victim of a “clear-cut case of shaken baby syndrome.” She was suffering from bleeding on the brain when she vomited and went into cardiac arrest March 30 at Teldeschi’s home on Cleveland Street, the affidavit said.

The baby, identified in the affidavit as Prinsess, was transported to a local hospital before being airlifted to Oakland Children’s Hospital. Doctors determined the girl was also suffering from 13 broken ribs, a broken clavicle and a traumatic spinal injury.

Teldeschi is currently charged with corporal injury to a child and infliction of great bodily injury, according to jail records. He is being held in lieu of $1.2 million bail.”

11-month-old allegedly abused by foster father has died as a result of her injuries  [Record net 5/9/14]

“Police in Stockton are considering bringing homicide charges against a 37-year-old man following the death of his infant foster daughter.”

Foster dad held for abuse may face homicide charge[Sacramento Bee 5/10/14 by The Associated Press]

Update 4: “The San Joaquin County Coroner’s Office has determined that homicide was the cause of death of an 11-month-old Stockton girl who authorities say was abused by a foster parent.

Paul Teldeschi, 37, of Stockton, previously charged with corporal injury to a child and infliction of great bodily injury, will face an additional charge of child abuse resulting in death, said Officer Joe Silva, a spokesman for the Stockton Police Department. Teldeschi is being held at the San Joaquin County Jail in lieu of $1.2 million bail, according to jail records.

The baby, identified in a search warrant affidavit as Prinsess, was taken to a local hospital and later airlifted to Children’s Hospital Oakland after going into cardiac arrest March 30 at Teldeschi’s home.

According to the affidavit, doctors determined the girl was suffering from bleeding on the brain, 13 broken ribs, a broken clavicle and a traumatic spinal injury.”

Foster child’s death ruled homicide; suspect to face additional charges[The Record 5/14/14]

Update 5:“A 37-year-old Stockton man, accused in the “shaken baby” death of a foster child, had his bail raised to $2.2 million Tuesday.

The criminal complaint against Paul Teldeschi also has been amended. He is now being charged with assault “by means of force … resulting in the child’s death.”

It is a homicide charge involving criminally abusive conduct against children under the age of 8, according to the California Penal Code.

If convicted, Teldeschi could face 25 years to life in state prison.

In a 30-second hearing before Superior Court Judge Franklin Stephenson, Teldeschi entered a plea of “not guilty.”

A July 8 hearing was scheduled to establish a date for his preliminary hearing. Teldeschi is represented by attorney John Noonan of Pleasanton.

He is being prosecuted by San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Edward Garvey.

“The difference between this crime and other homicides, such as first-degree murder, is malice aforethought,” said Garvey. “This charge is about willfully inflicting abuse on a child resulting in great bodily harm.”

On March 30, emergency personnel responded to a call from the Teldeschi home on Cleveland Street. Eleven-month-old Prinsess, according to a Stockton Police Department search-warrant affidavit, was in cardiac arrest. Teldeschi was arrested in mid-April and Prinsess died May 9 at Children’s Hospital Oakland, where she had been airlifted.

Before the death, Teldeschi faced lesser child-abuse charges and was being held on $1.2 million bail.

Her injuries, according to the criminal complaint, included “traumatic brain injury/subdural hematoma,” a “fractured clavicle,” 13 broken ribs and “traumatic spinal injury.”

Doctors and medical personnel who examined the baby said she was “a clear-cut case of shaken baby syndrome.”

Stockton police and the District Attorney’s Office continue to wait for the final autopsy records from Children’s Hospital.”

Dad charged with homicide in foster daughter’s death[Record Net 6/11/14 by Kevin Parrish]

Update 6:”A 37-year-old man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shaken baby death of his infant foster daughter and other child abuse charges on Wednesday.

Paul Teldeschi accepted a plea deal for a total prison sentence of 24 years and four months on six counts, including charges for abusing a second foster child, the girl’s brother.

Prosecutors say Teldeschi violently shook and assaulted 10-month-old Prinsess at the family home on Cleveland Street while his wife was at the grocery store on March 30.

Prinsess “suffered subdural hematoma and went into cardiac arrest as a result of the abusive head trauma she endured,” Deputy District Attorney Edward McGarvey said in a court statement.

Court records show the child slipped into a coma and had to be airlifted to Oakland Children’s Hospital, where she eventually succumbed to the injuries on May 8.

Medical examinations revealed the child had signs she had been abused prior to the March 30 attack.

The girl had a fractured clavicle, 13 broken ribs, a traumatic injury to her spinal cord area and healing head trauma from Teldeschi shaking her earlier in March, McGarvey said.

Outside the courtroom, McGarvey added that when it came to the evidence against Teldeschi “the injuries spoke for themselves.”

But in addition, there were admissions made during the investigation that supported medical findings.

“There was a statement from his wife saying she saw him violently shake (Prinsess) in the weeks preceding the (March 30 shaking).”

Cellphone records show Teldeschi sent his mother a text message admitting he had shook the baby.

Teldeschi is the husband of former Record employee Christine Teldeschi, who had two biological children with Paul Teldeschi. She filed for divorce in April, court records show.

Prosecutors have said Christine Teldeschi cooperated with investigators. She will not face criminal charges in the abuse of the two foster siblings.

Paul Teldeschi initially claimed the baby suddenly began vomiting in her swing and fell into cardiac arrest. He said he administered CPR and called 911.

Doctors in Oakland discovered injuries that pointed to child abuse. The broken ribs were caused seven to 10 days before the cardiac arrest. And traumatic spinal injury found was “like the victim had been bent in half,” according to a search warrant return.

Teldeschi, who had left the Stockton area following the incident, was arrested April 17 at a residence in Belmont.

The girl’s brother, Prince, was removed from the home in April.

The boy was medically evaluated on May 8. Doctors found he, too, had rib fractures.

Teldeschi, originally facing 25 years-to-life in prison, signed the plea agreement Wednesday morning before his case was called by Judge Franklin Stephenson.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter instead of the original charge, child abuse resulting in death.  Teldeschi also pleaded to five counts of corporal punishment or injury of a child — one of those counts relating to Prince.

Teldeschi’s attorney, John Noonan of Pleasanton, declined to comment.

Teldeschi is scheduled to return to court Feb. 3 for sentencing.”

Man pleads guilty in foster daughter’s death [Record Net 11/20/14 by Jennie Rodriguez-Moore]

Update 7:“As a Stockton man is sentenced to 25 years in prison after killing his foster daughter, criminal information about his wife is also surfacing.

Paul Teldeschi pleaded guilty to manslaughter, after a plea deal was made with the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s office.

This originates from an incident dating back to March 30, 2014, where Teldeschi called 911 to report his injured foster baby, Princess.

Court documents said Princess suffered traumatic brain injury, several fractures, and spinal injuries, before becoming comatose. She died five months later, and was buried four days before her first birthday.

Princess’ biological mother, Tanya Palmer, was in the courtroom during the sentencing.

“She never said mom, she never walked talked, nothing,” she said, crying. “Looking at him, I don’t think he got enough time. He can still get out when he is 63 years old. The man will be out of prison. My daughter is dead forever.”

In response, Deputy District Attorney, Ted McGarvey said Teldeschi is paying for what he did.
“He accepted responsibility,” he said, “It was a heinous crime. This is a child who was 10 months old. Never got to experience her life. She spent 5 agonizing months, dying a slow and painful death.”

Palmer knows she is far from perfect. She was arrested for drug possession on June 14, 2013, and was forced to give up her two of her six children, including Princess.

“They were actually in a really good home in Tracy. My kids practically grew up there. They raised them, until they moved them to Stockton, which I didn’t understand why,” Palmer said.

Palmer said she tried to get her children back, but it was too late. By that time, Princess was already in the hospital.

On January 20, 2015, San Joaquin County District Attorney’s office also filed a criminal complaint against Teldeschi’s wife, Christine Teldeschi, ironically a former parenting columnist for the local newspaper.

“Having his [Paul’s] case resolved, we decided that she could have prevented this death that happened . And she didn’t do enough to protect,” Deputy DA McGarvey said.

Palmer agreed. “There is no way the damage my daughter suffered, she didn’t know,” she said.

Christine Teldeschi was arraigned Monday for Child Abuse/Endangerment charges. Palmer said no amount of punishment will ever be enough.

“Child endangerment doesn’t put you in prison,” Palmer said. “She still gets to have her kids. I don’t get mine because of them.”

Christine Teldeschi has been released on her own recognizance, meaning she promises to return to court for her pre-preliminary hearing next month on March 9th.”

Stockton Foster Dad Sentenced in Shaken Baby Death; Wife Now Facing Charges[Fox 40 2/3/15 by RINA NAKANO AND KIMBERLY MCDOUGALL,]

Update 8: “A 38-year-old Stockton woman has pleaded no contest to a felony child-endangerment charge in a case involving the death of her 10-month-old foster daughter and has been placed on five years’ probation.

The Wednesday morning resolution to Christine Teldeschi’s case came six months after her ex-husband, Paul Teldeschi, was sentenced to more than 24 years in state prison in the infant’s 2014 death.

Paul Teldeschi was sentenced after agreeing to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter and five counts of corporal punishment or injury of a child, one of the counts relating to a second foster child, the girl’s older brother.

After Christine Teldeschi agreed to her deal Wednesday morning, the former features editor of The Record declined to comment. So did Deputy District Attorney Ted McGarvey and defense attorney Cadee Esparza.

The felony charge against Christine Teldeschi will be reduced to a misdemeanor in one year if she follows the terms of her probation for the next 12 months. She already has completed a required 52-week parenting class.

“If there are violations, her probation could be revoked and she could spend up to six years in state prison,” Judge Ronald Northup said.

Christine Teldeschi was at the grocery store when Paul Teldeschi violently shook the couple’s foster daughter, Prinsess, on March 30, 2014.

Doctors later determined the infant had been severely abused on other occasions, and a medical evaluation of the girl’s 2-year-old brother, Prince, indicated he was suffering from fractured ribs.

In interviews last year, McGarvey said Christine Teldeschi had stated she saw her then-husband violently shake Prinsess in the weeks preceding the March 30, 2014, shaking, and was not cooperative for the first 10 days of the investigation.

In February, nearly one year after Prinsess’ death, Christine Teldeschi was arraigned on child-endangerment charges for failing to protect the two foster siblings. Teldeschi has regained custody of her two biological children.”

No contest plea in foster child’s death [ Record 8/26/15 by Roger Phillips]