Queens Woman Charged With Murder Of 11-Month-Old Step-Grandson

ROSEDALE, QUEENS -- A Queens woman was charged with the murder of her 11-month-old step-grandson on Tuesday after the otherwise healthy infant suddenly became braindead on her watch last fall, prosecutors said.

Shanica Callaghan, 29, was the only one at the family's Rosedale home when little Jeremiah threw up, passed out and went into cardiac arrest last August, authorities said. The infant was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where doctors declared him brain dead. He was taken off life support a week later.

Cops initially thought a baby formula allergy may have caused the death, but an autopsy later found traumatic brain injuries suggesting Jeremiah was violently shaken to death, said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

Callaghan and her husband, Clinton, had gained full custody of the child, whose mother struggled with drug addiction, Brown said.

"Sadly, one of his rescuers is now accused of killing him," he said.

Hours before Jeremiah went into cardiac arrest, the pair took him and their three biological children to play at a nearby park, where he appeared healthy, according to the charges.

Shanica claimed when she was alone with the child afterward, she changed his diaper, gave him a bottle and burped him before he began throwing up and struggling to breathe.

Prosecutors said the autopsy tells a different story.

"His skull was fractured and there was bleeding on the brain and other horrible, unimaginable injuries," Brown said.

Callaghan was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. She is awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court.

If convicted, she faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

(Lead photo via Shutterstock)