Nanny Stuffed Baby Wipe Down Infant's Throat in Murray Hill, Prosecutors Say

MURRAY HILL, NY — A Murray Hill nanny has been charged with attempted murder after she stuffed a rolled-up baby wipe down an infant's throat, prosecutors said.

The baby survived but required surgery to remove the wipe, authorities said. The nanny, Marianne Benjamin-Williams, was indicted on attempted murder and assault charges on Tuesday. She was also hit with other charges including endangering the welfare of a child.

Benjamin-Williams, 45, was watching the two-month-old child and his 14-month-old brother last month when she pushed the baby wipe down the infant's throat, prosecutors allege. The New York Daily News reported it happened in the childrens' Murray Hill home. (Want more local news? Subscribe here for free breaking news alerts and updates from Patch.)

A child abuse pediatrician at Bellevue Hospital told police that she examined the infant after he had undergone surgery, according to the criminal complaint filed against Benjamin-Williams. The doctor told police that, based on the location and condition of the wipe and the infant's age, "the baby wipe had been intentionally placed inside of the baby's mouth and intentionally pushed down his throat," causing the infant to suffer respiratory distress.

The doctor said that neither the infant nor his brother would have the strength or developmental ability to put the wipe down the infant's throat.

Benjamin-Williams denied placing the baby wipe in the child's mouth, according to the complaint. She told detectives that she often left the infant and his brother alone for up to 20 minutes at a time. She was the only adult in the apartment when the child stopped breathing, police said.

Benjamin-Williams pleaded not guilty and remains in jail on $100,000 bail. Her attorney Leonard Levenson maintained his client's innocence when contact by Patch on Wednesday

"I think it gives credence to the old saying that a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich if asked to do so," he said.

Levenson said that Benjamin-Williams had worked for the family for 14 months and that she had "absolutely no reason" to try and kill the child.

This post was updated on 14 June at 1:30 p.m. with comment from Benjamin-Williams' attorney.

Lead image via Shutterstock.