NJ Daycare Worker Fractured Baby's Skull, Lied To Child Services: Docs

MOUNT OLIVE, NJ —A former Morris County daycare worker accused of fracturing a baby's skull told police she lied to state child protective services because she didn't want to "get in trouble," court documents show.

On Wednesday, Morris County officials announced charges against former Mount Olive Child Care and Learning Center teacher Christina Susco, saying she assaulted the 16-month-old girl at the daycare on March 25.

Susco, 38, faces a second-degree charge of endangering the welfare of a child, and a third-degree charge of aggravated assault. The Budd Lake resident was listed as one of the primary caregivers for infants on the center's site as of Wednesday afternoon.

The executive director of the center, Gail Reuther, told Patch it took "immediate action" upon learning of the allegations against Susco and terminated her employment.

"This is an isolated and distressing incident, and we are shocked and embarrassed that this occurred at our Center, which has a 47-year history of service to the community and quality services to the children and families," she said in a statement.

Child seen wobbling, crying in security footage

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed with her arrest, the child's parents took her to the hospital that day. She was treated on March 25 and 26 for a left occipital skull fracture, a detective said. Doctors released her back to her parents' care, said a detective with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

The child is not named in the document, and just referred to by the placeholder initials X.X.

The detective obtained video footage from the child care center and reviewed it on May 2, documents state. The video showed Susco watching over the child in her classroom, including changing her diaper, feeding her, and taking her out to play, court records state.

At one point, Susco is seen taking the child behind a cubby area "that was mostly outside the view of the camera," but the detective noted he could see Susco appear to place the child on the ground.

"After doing so, (I saw the child's) feet flailing close to the ground," the detective wrote. "I then saw X.X. walk back into camera view. X.X. was wobbling while walking and appeared to be crying. X.X. then sat on the ground, placed both of her hands on the sides of her head, and then continued to cry."

The detective met with Susco on May 6, where she reportedly "admitted to becoming frustrated and overwhelmed" with the child, and said she unintentionally assaulted the child.

"Susco stated that she lied to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency when speaking about this incident previously because she did not want to get into trouble," the affidavit reads.

After she was charged, officials said Susco was released from the Morris County Correctional Facility on a series of conditions, including restraint from the day care center.

Information on her defense counsel was not immediately available.

Officials said they are still investigating the incident, and ask anyone who might have more information to call the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at (973) 285-6200.