An Auburn day care provider was arrested by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office after she was accused of shaking a 10-month-old infant, causing severe head injuries, deputies said.
Gloria J. Odrzywolski, 61, of 7 Anna St., Auburn, was charged on Sunday with reckless assault of a child, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
A joint investigation conducted by deputies and the Onondaga County Child Protective Services began after the infant was admitted to University Hospital in Syracuse, where she was diagnosed with internal bleeding in the brain and eyes, deputies said.
Both injuries are often caused when an infant is violently shaken or receives blunt force trauma to the head.
During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered the injuries occurred when the child was at Odrzywolski's unlicensed day care facility at her home on Aug. 29, deputies said.
A resident at Odrzywolski's home declined to comment on the incident or reveal how many children the day care serves.
Susan Steele, the director of communications for the state's Office of Children and Family Services, said that Odrzywolski was issued a cease and desist order in 2006 when she was found to be in violation of state guidelines for the number of children an unlicensed provider may care for. Any provider who takes care of more than two children a day for more than three hours must be licensed.
Licensed providers are required to receive training, mental and physical examinations, undergo background checks and maintain the facility in accordance with state guidelines.
Whenever parents want to find a day care provider or get any information, Steele said they can call (518) 474-9454 or visit www.ocfs.state.ny.us. Either source would help parents check for violations, complaints or other problems that have been documented at a facility.
Although Odrzywolski is accused of shaking the child within city limits, the Auburn Police Department deferred the case to the sheriff's office to avoid a conflict of interest because one of the parents of the child was a city employee.
Odrzywolski was arraigned in Auburn City Court Sunday, and was released later the same day from the Cayuga County Jail on bail, which was set at $5,000 cash.
The child was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon, and her condition was improving, deputies said.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
A joint investigation conducted by deputies and the Onondaga County Child Protective Services began after the infant was admitted to University Hospital in Syracuse, where she was diagnosed with internal bleeding in the brain and eyes, deputies said.
Both injuries are often caused when an infant is violently shaken or receives blunt force trauma to the head.
During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered the injuries occurred when the child was at Odrzywolski's unlicensed day care facility at her home on Aug. 29, deputies said.
A resident at Odrzywolski's home declined to comment on the incident or reveal how many children the day care serves.
Susan Steele, the director of communications for the state's Office of Children and Family Services, said that Odrzywolski was issued a cease and desist order in 2006 when she was found to be in violation of state guidelines for the number of children an unlicensed provider may care for. Any provider who takes care of more than two children a day for more than three hours must be licensed.
Licensed providers are required to receive training, mental and physical examinations, undergo background checks and maintain the facility in accordance with state guidelines.
Whenever parents want to find a day care provider or get any information, Steele said they can call (518) 474-9454 or visit www.ocfs.state.ny.us. Either source would help parents check for violations, complaints or other problems that have been documented at a facility.
Although Odrzywolski is accused of shaking the child within city limits, the Auburn Police Department deferred the case to the sheriff's office to avoid a conflict of interest because one of the parents of the child was a city employee.
Odrzywolski was arraigned in Auburn City Court Sunday, and was released later the same day from the Cayuga County Jail on bail, which was set at $5,000 cash.
The child was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon, and her condition was improving, deputies said.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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Farmer's Gal wrote on Sep 19, 2008 8:30 AM:
None of which has anything whatsoever to do with Gloria O. and her daycare. Her husband's involvement with the Utopia Club is utterly irrelevant to this issue.
Again, hoping that for once justice is served, and truly innocent parties are not harmed any more than they already have been. "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Sep 19, 2008 8:24 AM:
I don't know where bornotb or anyone else gets the idea I have an axe to grind here -- I don't, and if you read my post, you'd see I took an even-handed approach -- that we don't know the facts yet and all should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
There are people who know both the child's family and the accused and her family, and all of them have good, solid reputations and many friends who could not possibly believe this of any of them. It's possible that someone among those people -- parents OR accused, could have done something no one would have believed, or there may yet be some other explanation and some other party involved. My point was simply that we don't know, and also how awkward it makes it for anyone invloved.
I did also make comments about some of the stupid aspects of child care licensing, while at the same time acknowledging the value of the same. As I said, that's a double-edged sword.
I also agree that dealing with CPS is scary. I have two sons. When they were little, they were pretty rambunctious, as little boys (and girls!) often will be. One time the younger boy was fooling around on a sort of metal bar a friend of ours has as a fence on his property. The kid was flipping on it and lost his grip and fell on his head. Not so bad as to draw blood, but he got a bump on the head. Like kids do. My husband of the time wanted to make sure our boy didn't have a concussion, so he took him in to the hospital -- and boy, was that scary, because they immediately suspected him of child abuse. Thankfully there were many witnesses, as there was a group of parents and friends all sitting about talking while the kids were playing, but it was a scary moment -- very much guilty until proven innocent.
So, as I said, I hope the innocent come out OK from this mess. "
javajava wrote on Sep 17, 2008 9:01 PM:
excnyer wrote on Sep 17, 2008 6:34 PM:
" To all of the supporters of the accused- 'Drinks are on the house at the Utopia Club'
Give me a break you bunch of barflies!! And Farmer's Girl- it sounds like you have an axe to grind. Have some more bitter apple... "
ARE YOU BUYING???? "
bezzie_boy wrote on Sep 17, 2008 3:45 PM:
maybe this would not be a big issue with her now if she got her license or ceased daycare. "
bornotb wrote on Sep 17, 2008 11:52 AM:
Give me a break you bunch of barflies!! And Farmer's Girl- it sounds like you have an axe to grind. Have some more bitter apple... "
mel1966 wrote on Sep 17, 2008 10:20 AM:
brwneyegrl46 wrote on Sep 17, 2008 8:42 AM:
mel1966 wrote on Sep 17, 2008 12:21 AM:
fish wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:10 PM:
Being licenced is not only about money/taxes. Access to many resources offered through licensing is a very good thing; safety, training and background checks for instance as mentioned in the article. Thanks but I'd prefer a licenced day care over non. Not saying I agree with every rule put forward but imagine 4 infants crying at once and only one babysitter, now imagine one of those infants is yours and yours ends up being the last one to get fed or held. How do you feel? Are you happy you saved yourself $20 per week? Also, where is there a licenced babsitter at night for dinner and movie...let me know, I'll check it out.
The truth will certainly come out. And yes this woman is absolutely innocent until proven guilty. Jumping to conclusions based on the small amount of info in this article is what is ABSURD. And...who said the child was that of an Aub Police officer?? The text states "an Auburn City employee". "
floridafriend wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:35 PM:
mel1966 wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:57 PM:
freckles wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:56 PM:
excnyer wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:46 PM:
Farmer's Gal wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:19 PM:
Some of those regulations for child care are absurd, while others are critical. Can't win on that one. I know that being licensed means higher costs to the parents due to taxes and the need to meet some of the silly rules. (Had a day care provider who used to sleep the little one in the bedrooms she'd used raising her own kids. After licensing, she could no longer do that because the rule is all-on-the-ground floor. She'd raised 6 of her own and done exemplary child care for many, many others' children using those comfortable homey bedrooms, but after, they had to sleep on thin little mats on the ground floor. THAT was OK, while nice beds upstairs was not.
What little we saved with the tax exemption went right back into her fees because then SHE was charged tax -- the government was giving the APPEARANCE of helping families when in reality they were just collecting taxes in a different way, no help to families at all, and adding more bureaucracy.
Double-edged sword, I'd guess -- will watch this case and hope for the best for the innocent -- may the justice system work for once. "
Mel1966 wrote on Sep 16, 2008 5:48 PM:
concerned134 wrote on Sep 16, 2008 4:51 PM:
fish wrote on Sep 16, 2008 4:09 PM:
areyoukidding wrote on Sep 16, 2008 2:07 PM:
concerned134 wrote on Sep 16, 2008 12:20 PM: