Melissa Calhoun, Forever 2½; 13-year-old babysitter charged

[Dakota Valkyrie]

A 13-year-old babysitter was charged with manslaughter in the death of a 2½-year-old girl Saturday in the Oneida County village of Yorkville, authorities said.

The toddler, Melissa Calhoun, was found dead by her mother about 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning, said Oneida County Coroner Steven Wolanin. The 13-year-old had been watching the child alone overnight, he said.

The babysitter was charged with second-degree manslaughter and sent to a juvenile facility, state police said. The case will be handled in Family Court, troopers said.

The toddler died of blunt-force trauma to the back of her head, Wolanin said. The assault caused bleeding inside her head that led to her death. She appeared to have died hours before the mother came home, he said, but was officially pronounced dead about 9 a.m. Saturday. Wolanin wasn’t sure where the mother was during the night.

Authorities aren’t sure how the toddler’s injuries occurred, but Wolanin said he didn’t think a weapon would have had to been used.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.s...ysitter_c.html

[...]
On Sunday afternoon at about 4 p.m., a state trooper was posted outside the Ney Avenue crime scene. He said investigators were inside with family members.

A woman leaned against a truck parked in the driveway, talking on a cell phone and crying.

Investigator Chad Tangorra came outside briefly to say the 13-year-old was a family friend who had been babysitting.

He and other members of the state police would not release the name or gender of the 13-year-old suspect.

Tangorra would not say whether Melissa's mother, Irene Calhoun, was in the house when the incident happened, but did say the mother was home when the child was found to be dead.
[...]

The autopsy showed Melissa died of blunt-force trauma to the back of the head, Oneida County Coroner Stephen Wolanin said Sunday.

There was no evidence of other injuries, such as bone breaks or fractures, Wolanin said.
[...]

Irene Calhoun attended Grace Episcopal Church in Utica Sunday morning, church officials said.

Organist and choirmaster Bruce Smith said Irene Calhoun had been a member of his choir for one season a few years ago, but had to stop because she had so many other commitments.

Smith said as soon as Irene Calhoun entered the church Sunday, she was “immediately surrounded by lots of people in the church who knew her.”
[...]

Police have said the 13-year-old had been charged with second-degree manslaughter and was transported to an undisclosed detention facility.

Second-degree manslaughter is a charge applied when a person recklessly causes the death of another person. It is not premeditated.

http://www.uticaod.com/latestnews/x1...orkville-child

Mom's MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/eneri012181
Pics of Melissa as a baby but no current ones.

Articles eslewhere indicate the babysitter was a 13-year-old boy.

[Silvahalo]

The toddler, Melissa Calhoun, was found dead by her mother about 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning, said Oneida County Coroner Steven Wolanin. The 13-year-old had been watching the child alone overnight, he said.
....
Tangorra would not say whether Melissa's mother, Irene Calhoun, was in the house when the incident happened, but did say the mother was home when the child was found to be dead.

OK, so which is it? if mother was home why did she need a babysitter? I'm assuming she was not home and left this 13 yo boy to babysit overnight.

NOW, I will say I did baby sit peoples kids at age 12 but, I gotta tell you, I'd never do that with my own children today, much less a boy. I think boys are not as mature as girls at that age and are far more impulsive, far less likely to have any kind of baby care skills, generally speaking. WTF was the mother thinking leaving baby overnight without an adult sittier? IMO that is negligent as overnight care for a baby is way diff. than watching a baby for several hours. Yeah, I know the YMCA trains kiddo's as young as 11 but still, c'mon, use common sense. A kid sitter overnight? Doesn't mean that's a smart thing to do.

I want to know where the mother was. Partying or working?? hmm? i really want to know. Was she in a bind that she had to leave this kid with her baby, only person she could find? or was she able to pay this kid dirt cheap to do the job so she settled for him?

I believe these are all her children (dated 08). Precious. OMG, terrible what happened to baby Melissa and I do feel for anyone who loved her but I simply want to know what is what and what the circumstances were that baby was left overnight to be cared for by a child. Melissa lost her life for this decision so yeah, answers please.

Rest in peace baby Melissa...

[koochie]

you cant expect a 13 yr old child to be responsible for a 2.5 yr old overnight....
i know people will disagree saying i watched my siblings for weeks or i had my first at 13...but this girl wasnt related to baby and a 13 is still really hardly able to be responsible for themselves never mind a damanding toddler...

the parents of this girl and the baby should have known better...sadly they paid with both childrens lives really.
sad all around.

[Obsolete]

OK, so which is it? if mother was home why did she need a babysitter? I'm assuming she was not home and left this 13 yo boy to babysit overnight.

I've heard of some people having a sitter stay overnight even when they are home, mostly because they are ill or have to work long hours and need the sleep, it's a rare situation but maybe that's what happened?

Another option would be maybe the kid was babysitting kind of late, by the time mom got home it was too late to drive the kid home so he slept over?

[Athena]

Pardon my ignorance, but I really don't understand the difference between watching a child for a few hours late at night (when most babysitters are scheduled for) and watching them overnight.

When I was 14, I babysat 3 boys for a period - 2, 4 and 6. Their mom worked a swing shift, so on Fridays when family members weren't available, I'd watch the kids from roughly 5:00 to 11:00pm, but sometimes mom wouldn't make it home until closer to 1:00am. It didn't matter. The kids were in bed at 9:00pm no matter what the circumstance. As a result, I don't understand why the "overnight" thing bears any significance. The kid's going to be asleep for most of that.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

I always preferred my sitters to babysit at night when the kids were asleep. Most 2 1/2 year olds sleep all night. As this was a family friend, the boy have sat for her often. So many variables with the ability/maturity at that age that I can't call it neglect just for having a 13yo sitter. "Overnight" could mean as many as hours or as little as 6. The only one obviously at fault, at this point, is the boy.

[TheMorningStar]

The only one obviously at fault, at this point, is the boy.

Did they release the gender of the babysitter?

[Obsolete]

Did they release the gender of the babysitter?

DV posted a link at the bottom of her first post, in that link it indicats a 13 yr old boy was arrested.

[Silvahalo]

Unfortunately, a lot of 2 1/2 yo get up in the night as they are not on a regular sleep schedule. I have several friends with older children who still get up in the night and because of that rarely use a babysitter. My children have been on a sleep schedule since about 5/6 mo. so yes, they do sleep without hardly ever getting up overnight. But what if the baby did get up, and the chances are very possible) and this 13 boy freaks out as he probably did, perhaps didn't know how to get baby to stop crying...what then? was a number left to call if he had a problem?

Regardless, I would NEVER consider a 13 yo boy or girl to care for my baby overnight, unless I had absolutely NO choice and the situation would have to be a good one. You can nitpic on what overnight means but that still means the child who is caring for the baby would need to be up and ready to handle a crying child. I babysat regularly my own siblings and other peoples kids but never was I asked to do so overnight. A outing for the evening yes, not overnight. I think the parent of the 13 yo should have also used better judgment in allowing their child to do so. The mother found the child at 8:30am dead as she arrived home. Sounds to me it was truly an overnight sitting job.

The 13 yo is certainly at fault for bringing the blow that killed baby girl but the parents involved here are also at at fault for allowing the situation, that IMO was not a smart thing to do.

Oh, and on the rare occasion hubs and I go out, yes, we do so in the evening as the children are in bed by 8:30pm. We stay out for several hours and have never had an issue with the kids getting up, but never were we gone overnight. Sleep schedules are a must.

[ImmortalOne]

I don't see an issue with Overnight at 13 years old. The kids usually are asleep during that time (even my almost 3 yr old generally stays in bed and sleeps all night). Also, boy or girl, if the child is mature normally whatever. Also, if the mom needed the kid to babysit to work, we'd be screaming about her leaving her kid alone. So at least she tried and apparently there was a problem.

[brokenandtwisted]

An adequate sentencing...amputate limbs with a grand total of 2½ feet in length.

[koochie]

Silva,

you nailed it right on the head... a 2.5 yr old doesnt always sleep through and a 13 yr old would have no patience for a crying child waking him/her up in the middle of the night. Hell i cant stand it but i know all the tricks to get them settled back to sleep.

I have read too many times a bf or babysitter who got interrupted during their computer time or their games or their spank it channel. Its always an ugly end.

[Athena]

Unfortunately, a lot of 2 1/2 yo get up in the night as they are not on a regular sleep schedule. I have several friends with older children who still get up in the night and because of that rarely use a babysitter. My children have been on a sleep schedule since about 5/6 mo. so yes, they do sleep without hardly ever getting up overnight. But what if the baby did get up, and the chances are very possible) and this 13 boy freaks out as he probably did, perhaps didn't know how to get baby to stop crying...what then? was a number left to call if he had a problem?

Regardless, I would NEVER consider a 13 yo boy or girl to care for my baby overnight, unless I had absolutely NO choice and the situation would have to be a good one. You can nitpic on what overnight means but that still means the child who is caring for the baby would need to be up and ready to handle a crying child. I babysat regularly my own siblings and other peoples kids but never was I asked to do so overnight. A outing for the evening yes, not overnight. I think the parent of the 13 yo should have also used better judgment in allowing their child to do so. The mother found the child at 8:30am dead as she arrived home. Sounds to me it was truly an overnight sitting job.

The 13 yo is certainly at fault for bringing the blow that killed baby girl but the parents involved here are also at at fault for allowing the situation, that IMO was not a smart thing to do.

Oh, and on the rare occasion hubs and I go out, yes, we do so in the evening as the children are in bed by 8:30pm. We stay out for several hours and have never had an issue with the kids getting up, but never were we gone overnight. Sleep schedules are a must.

Silva, it sounds like you simply don't trust 13 year olds to babysit in general. I say this because the incident you list as a possibility is actually MUCH more likely to happen during the day (crying unconsolably). Overnight babysitting is less demanding than day sitting, no matter how many times the child gets up (during the day, the child is constantly up).

I understand - these days, it's increasingly hard to find a responsible 13 year old. But that's not because they're inherently incapable, it's because their parents tend to treat them like babies.

[koochie]

Overnight babysitting is less demanding than day sitting, no matter how many times the child gets up (during the day, the child is constantly up).

but you have to add in the exhaustion factor...Getting up 2-3-5 times a night because a child is crying and wont be consoled because she wants her mother, add in that child isnt yours and you are pretty much still a child yourself @13 and you just want to go back to bed is a really dangerous combination.

[Silvahalo]

but you have to add in the exhaustion factor...Getting up 2-3-5 times a night because a child is crying and wont be consoled because she wants her mother, add in that child isnt yours and you are pretty much still a child yourself @13 and you just want to go back to bed is a really dangerous combination.

Yes, overnight is taxing for anyone especially a child. And a 2 yo, wowzie they wouldn't want much want anyone but mom when their upset. A 2 yo can throw a 5 alarm fit like nobodies business and doing that at 2am, yeah good luck.

Athena, yeah, I wouldn't trust any 13 yo caring for my baby overnight. I know some pretty mature 13 yo's too but that's my judgment as a parent. I simply wouldn't do it unless it was ABSOLUTELY necessary and still that 13 yo would have to pretty well versed on baby care and mature.

[Whisper]

Authorities: Babysitter sexually assaulted toddler, threw her against fridge before death
YORKVILLE, N.Y. (WKTV) - A press conference on the death of a 2 1/2 year old child while in the care of her babysitter left more questions than answers Monday afternoon.
On Saturday, June 19, 2010 at approximately 8:54 a.m., the Village of Yorkville Police were dispatched to 1202 Ney Avenue in Yorkville for a report of an unresponsive child.
Due to the nature of the case, the police department requested assistance from the State Police.
The child, Melissa Calhoun, 2 ½ years old, was discovered unresponsive by her mother. The child was pronounced deceased a short time later and was sent to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica pending an autopsy.
Authorities said that information received thus far indicates Calhoun was alive at 1 a.m. Saturday when the mother arrived home and checked on her. The autopsy was performed at St. Elizabeth Medical Center by Dr. Michael Sikiricia on Sunday, June 20 and determined the cause of death to be "cerebral edema and subdural hematomas due to blunt force trauma."

The investigation revealed that the child had been in the care of Alec Champagne, a 13-year old male babysitter, an 8th grader from Whitesboro, the night before and that Champagne had caused the injuries which resulted in her death.
Authorities said those injuries include sexual assault, that Champagne threw the toddler against a refigerator, as well as letting her fall from a standing position on the bed.
State Police said Champagne, who was a family friend, had babysat the child in the past.
District Attorney McNamara said that if convicted, Champagne could face a minimum of five years to life in prison and a maximum of nine years to life in prison. Champagne is being represented by Attorney Richard Bach.
The New York State Penal Law allows those under 16 years of age to be designated as Juvenile Offenders on a certain few of the most serious crimes.
The only crime that a 13-year old may be charged with as a Juvenile Offender is Murder in the Second Degree.
"Obviously he is presumed innocent at this point and these are merely allegations placed against him," McNamara said.
When asked if Champagne had any prior convictions that McNamara was aware of, the District Attorney said he did not believe so, but presumed no.
"I couldn't answer that if it was true," McNamara said. "But I presume no."
Based on the results of the investigation and the autopsy, the suspect is being arraigned in the Town of Floyd Court for second-degree murder and will be sent to a secure facility under the control of the State Office of Children and Family Services, formerly the Division for Youth.
Champagne pleaded not-guilty at his Monday arraignment, and will return to Town of Floyd Court at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 25.
Officials said the investigation is still ongoing, and as of Monday afternoon, they were not charging anyone else in the case.
"At this point, this is the only charge we're considering filing right now," McNamara said. "Our investigation continues. At this point, there's still a lot of work to be done int his case."
When asked if he thought it was a little rough to be charging a teenager with murder, McNamara said he felt it was appropriate.
[...]

http://www.wktv.com/news/local/96827714.html

[Whisper]

Charge against teenager in toddler case upgraded to murder
Yorkville, Oneida Co. (WSYR-TV) - Police have upgraded the charge against a teenager they say was responsible for the death of a toddler to murder in the second degree.

The police say Alec Champagne, an eighth grader in the Whitesboro School District, beat the child and struck her in the head repeatedly, including hitting it against a refrigerator and also with a dresser drawer.
They also say Champagne sexually assaulted her. Because the charge of sexual assault does not exist for a suspect so young, the police decided murder in the second degree was the most appropriate charge.
The child, a female just over two-and-a-half years old was discovered unresponsive by her mother. The child was pronounced dead a short time later.
[...]
Police say evidence indicates the child was alive at 1:00 a.m. when the mother arrived home and checked on her. The autopsy was performed at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital on Sunday determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma.
[...]

http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/stor...Q.cspx?rss=112

[Obsolete]

So the boy didn't babysit all night, he just stayed the whole night. I wonder if he had already hurt her and put her to bed, when the mom came home she was alive but appeared to be sleeping, or if the kid did it after mom came home and went to bed.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Champagne threw the toddler against a refigerator, as well as letting her fall from a standing position on the bed.

State Police said Champagne, who was a family friend, had babysat the child in the past.

What happened could have happened no matter the age or sex of the sitter or the ability or the time the sitting was occurring. Sick fucker.

[Silvahalo]

Silva, it sounds like you simply don't trust 13 year olds to babysit in general. I say this because the incident you list as a possibility is actually MUCH more likely to happen during the day (crying unconsolably). Overnight babysitting is less demanding than day sitting, no matter how many times the child gets up (during the day, the child is constantly up).

I understand - these days, it's increasingly hard to find a responsible 13 year old. But that's not because they're inherently incapable, it's because their parents tend to treat them like babies.

I think it has far more to do with parents not being involved more with their children's up bringing. Little to no structure, pathetic disciplining and parenting in general.

I see he assaulted baby girl. Puts a new spin on things. How horrific.

[Silvahalo]

What happened could have happened no matter the age or sex of the sitter or the ability or the time the sitting was occurring. Sick fucker.

Yes. but still you cannot deny a child of 13 yo, impulsive and very immature. I agree completely. SICK fucker.

[Obsolete]

I agree that SOME 13 yr olds shouldn't babysit, just as some adults shouldn't either. But to generalize and say NO 13 yr should babysit is a bit much. My daughter babysits and she has been doing so since she was 12 (14 now) she is far more responsible than my 19 yr old nephew and she can handle extreme situations better than most adults can. The nights that she babysits my husband and I stay home in case she needs to call us for any reason, she has never had to.

It's easy to say "i would never" or "mom should have known better" but every situation is different. Unfortunately in this case the babysitter hurt the baby, but his age isn't what killed the baby. An adult could have easily done the same thing, as we all are well aware of.

[Athena]

I think it has far more to do with parents not being involved more with their children's up bringing. Little to no structure, pathetic disciplining and parenting in general.

Actually, research suggests that we are artificially extending the childhood of children due to too much involvement - structured, supervised play time rather than, "Be in when the lights come on!" like so many of us had the privilege of.

You see it right here on this forum - parents who gasp with disbelief when a 7 year old is allowed to walk within blocks of her own home during broad daylight, or parents who claim to avoid certain topics with their childen because they assume the child is too young to grasp it. Unless children are allowed to reach their potential (rather than having a presumed potential presented to them), they will never perform past the limits we set for them.

13 year olds in other countries are running entire farms or acting as head of family with far less structure and supervision than American kids generally have. Now, I certainly don't advocate bullshit like "unschooling" or no structure at all, but it appears we're over-doing it rather than under-doing it, over all.

[Silvahalo]

I agree that SOME 13 yr olds shouldn't babysit, just as some adults shouldn't either. But to generalize and say NO 13 yr should babysit is a bit much. My daughter babysits and she has been doing so since she was 12 (14 now) she is far more responsible than my 19 yr old nephew and she can handle extreme situations better than most adults can. The nights that she babysits my husband and I stay home in case she needs to call us for any reason, she has never had to.

It's easy to say "i would never" or "mom should have known better" but every situation is different. Unfortunately in this case the babysitter hurt the baby, but his age isn't what killed the baby. An adult could have easily done the same thing, as we all are well aware of.

I agree, and see your point. BUT this is simply my judgment as a parent. I would not trust a 13 yo to care for my child overnight, heck I don't know if at all. I really don't care what it sounds like, this is simply how I feel about who I'd let sit for my kids. I too was a very responsible baby sitter, started doing so at home by 9 yo and 11 outside of the home. Still, I wouldn't do as my mother saw fit to leave me be responsible for and what others thought I was capable of. Just wouldn't feel comfortable. It's really that simple for me.

[Athena]

I agree, and see your point. BUT this is simply my judgment as a parent. I would not trust a 13 yo to care for my child overnight, heck I don't know if at all. I really don't care what it sounds like, this is simply how I feel about who I'd let sit for my kids. I too was a very responsible baby sitter, started doing so at home by 9 yo and 11 outside of the home. Still, I wouldn't do as my mother saw fit to leave me be responsible for and what others thought I was capable of. Just wouldn't feel comfortable. It's really that simple for me.

And that's a-okay.

You well know by now that any stated opinion on this board becomes fair game, but at the end of the day, you don't have to justify your opinion to any of us.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

I agree, and see your point. BUT this is simply my judgment as a parent. I would not trust a 13 yo to care for my child overnight, heck I don't know if at all. I really don't care what it sounds like, this is simply how I feel about who I'd let sit for my kids. I too was a very responsible baby sitter, started doing so at home by 9 yo and 11 outside of the home. Still, I wouldn't do as my mother saw fit to leave me be responsible for and what others thought I was capable of. Just wouldn't feel comfortable. It's really that simple for me.

I get what you're saying but think you just haven't met a capable 13-year-old (there are some). Just like you would judge an adult sitter, you would judge a young teen sitter and "use" those abilities as you judged proper. Personally, I liked sitters to be 14-16 years old. In fact, the only sitters I ever had problems with were 17+. Go figure. I have had sitters as young as 12 but rarely had need for a true "overnight" sitter. That's what family was for.

[Tundratot]

When I consider a sitter this young, I usually expect the sitter's parent to have some involvement (supervision, willingness to give him/her advice and help). I would also not want to leave a kid that age overnight without an adult in my home. So I'd expect the sitting would take place in his/her home (under the supervision of his/her parent).

I would have to assume that this mother thought her daughter would be more comfortable in her own surroundings, or that she might be returning at an earlier hour and wanted her child at home when she got there.

Not much can be said about the boy. He's in big trouble now and it will follow him for the rest of his life. Impulse control was sadly lacking, a problem with some kids that age. Would have been safer at his own home with his parent supervising.

BUT . . . I'm surprised that his name has been released to the press and by the press. He is a minor and no one is talking about charging him as an adult.

[Obsolete]

I agree, and see your point. BUT this is simply my judgment as a parent. I would not trust a 13 yo to care for my child overnight, heck I don't know if at all. I really don't care what it sounds like, this is simply how I feel about who I'd let sit for my kids. I too was a very responsible baby sitter, started doing so at home by 9 yo and 11 outside of the home. Still, I wouldn't do as my mother saw fit to leave me be responsible for and what others thought I was capable of. Just wouldn't feel comfortable. It's really that simple for me.

I understand and I feel the same way about my own parents tactics, if someone doesn't like it they can find the "fuck off" door and see their way through it. I just wanted to clarify that my comments weren't directed at your views on raising your own kids, they were directed at the earlier comments that people made chastizing this mother for letting a 13 yr old babysit. To say that she was neglient is insulting and in my opinion ignorant.

[Silvahalo]

Actually, research suggests that we are artificially extending the childhood of children due to too much involvement - structured, supervised play time rather than, "Be in when the lights come on!" like so many of us had the privilege of.

You see it right here on this forum - parents who gasp with disbelief when a 7 year old is allowed to walk within blocks of her own home during broad daylight, or parents who claim to avoid certain topics with their childen because they assume the child is too young to grasp it. Unless children are allowed to reach their potential (rather than having a presumed potential presented to them), they will never perform past the limits we set for them.

13 year olds in other countries are running entire farms or acting as head of family with far less structure and supervision than American kids generally have. Now, I certainly don't advocate bullshit like "unschooling" or no structure at all, but it appears we're over-doing it rather than under-doing it, over all.

Athena, I'm saying necessary and proper structure, NOT over bearing or over zealous. I think by now you know to some degree what kind of parent I am. By no means am I raising boys that are too coddled, to doted by that they cannot make decisions on their own without mama/papa guiding their every move.

I think there are two concerns. Those who do little to nothing and those who do too much. I find that parenting is a day to day challenge. Many preconceptions about parenting have changed others I thought I'd never embrace I now consider. I can only hope that as I do to teach and guide them will also allow them to grow within themselves, strong, independent and caring individuals.

On this site we've seen people change opinions on the fly to suit their point so I appreciate yours staying rather consistent

[Athena]

Athena, I'm saying necessary and proper structure, NOT over bearing or over zealous. I think by now you know to some degree what kind of parent I am. By no means am I raising boys that are too coddled, to doted by that they cannot make decisions on their own without mama/papa guiding their every move.

No, I know what you mean in relation to YOUR children. I'm just saying that, when it comes to the overall picture, children who are incapable tend to be the result of over-parenting rather than under-parenting. Children who are under-parented often make mistakes but are, in general, more self-reliant than those who are used to having everything done for them.