Emily Duran, a 27-year-old babysitter in Fort Wayne, Indiana, faces two Level 3 felony charges—neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and battery to a child under 14 resulting in serious bodily injury—after allegedly causing a brain bleed to a 7-month-old boy by slapping and backhanding him “as hard as you would slap an adult.”
Incident Details
Police responded to a local hospital on December 11, 2025, where the infant was treated for severe facial bruising and a brain bleed, injuries medical experts deemed inflicted and inconsistent with the babysitter’s initial claim of a fall from a park bench. The parents had left the child with Duran around 7 a.m. that day at a residence in the 100 block of West Superior Street; upon returning near 5 p.m., they noticed the injuries after she left hurriedly.
Arrest and Confession
Authorities arrested Duran on December 19, 2025, after locating her through efforts by the Fort Wayne Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons and Gang & Violent Crimes Units. During questioning, following her Miranda rights, she admitted to the slaps and backhand, leading to her booking at Allen County Jail; she has since posted bond.
Legal Status
Each Level 3 felony carries a potential sentence of 3 to 16 years, with 9 years advisory. Her next court hearing remains scheduled for January 12, 2026, with no public updates indicating changes as of late December 2025.
