A 38-year-old Clinton Township woman was found guilty of first-degree child abuse Wednesday for severely injuring the toddler son of her boyfriend.
A 10-woman, two-man Macomb County jury deliberated only about 35 minutes before convicting Hilary Ulp of the charge for the May 2015 injuries suffered by 14-month-old Nicholas “Nico” Kuras, in his Eastpointe home.
Because of the head injuries suffered while under Ulp’s care, Nico requires around the clock care -- he cannot walk, talk or feed himself. Nico also suffered six broken ribs, and a broken pelvis and collarbone.
The conviction following a week-long trial in front of Judge Richard Caretti of Macomb County Circuit Court.
Ulp faces a term of up to life in prison Nov. 1 when she is sentenced by Caretti.
Caretti denied the prosecution’s request to immediately revoke her $100,000 bond while awaiting sentencing, meaning she will be free until then.
http://www.macombdaily.com/article/MD/20161102/NEWS/16110992511/02/2016
A 38-year-old Clinton Township woman was ordered to serve 11 to 30 years in prison for inflicting serious injuries upon her boyfriend’s 14-month-old son.
Hilary Ulp received the sentence Tuesday from Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Richard Caretti for the May 2015 beating of Nicholas “Nico” Kuras.
She was convicted in September following a second trial in the case. Her first trial last May ended with a hung jury.
In the latter trial, the jury deliberated only 35 minutes before delivering a verdict.
During the trial, Assistant Macomb Prosecutor Sian Hengeveld said Ulp harmed Nico, while baby-sitting him for Nico’s father, Kevin, who was playing euchre in St. Clair Shores.
Ulp tried to place the blame on Kevin Kuras.
Nico suffered severe head injuries for which he requires constant care. Nico cannot walk, talk or feed himself. He also suffered broken ribs, pelvis and collarbone.
A convicted child abuser from Macomb County already serving up to 30 years in prison faces even more time behind bars now that the child has died.
But Hilary Ulp of Clinton Township blames the toddler's father for the injuries that left the six-year-old child unable to care for himself for the past four years and resulted in the boy's death, which is being investigated by police from Eastpointe -- where the initial abuse took place -- and Center Line, where 6-year-old Nicholas 'Nico' Kuras died a couple of weeks ago.
"We are awaiting the autopsy report from the medical examiner, bloodwork and other medical records," said Eastpointe Public Safety Director George Rouhib. "Once we receive all of that information, we'll determine whether to ask the prosecutor to charge Miss Ulp with homicide."
Center Line investigators say the medical examiner will determine how the child died.
"They will decide how the case will go," Public Safety Director Paul Myszenski said.
Investigators hope the medical examiner will be able to determine if the injuries suffered at the hands of Ulp five years played a role in Nico's death. Conversely, if the reports show something new caused his death, it could lead to charges against Kuras.
The medical examiner's report should be ready in two to four weeks, police said.
A jury deliberated only 35 minutes before finding Ulp, 40, guilty of first-degree child abuse in 2016. It was Ulp's second trial on the charge. A jury could not reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared following the first trial.
Because of the head injuries suffered while under Ulp's care, Nico required around the clock care -- he could not walk, talk or feed himself. The toddler also suffered six broken ribs, and a broken pelvis and collarbone.
Kevin Kuras, the boy's father, now resides in Center Line with his parents. At his mother's urging, he would not comment on the case to a reporter last week.
But he did say that his son "smiles all the time" before leaving the room.
The family did not place an obituary for Nico.