Babysitter Charged In Connection With Baby's Death
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Babysitter Charged In Baby Death
Carolyn Miller was put into a police car and hauled off to the Brevard County Jail and has been charged in connection with the...
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Babysitter Charged In Baby DeathCarolyn Miller was put into a police car and hauled off to the Brevard County Jail and has been charged in connection with the...
Posted: 11:33 am EST January 24, 2011
Updated: 8:13 am EST January 25, 2011
TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- Investigators are awaiting autopsy results Tuesday of a missing 7-month-old boy who police said was found dead inside a cooler in the back yard of a Titusville home on S. Deleon Avenue (see map) on Monday.
The boy's babysitter, 40-year-old Carolyn Renee Miller, is being held in the Brevard County Jail on a $5,200 bond after she told police where to find the body. Police said the investigation is now being called a homicide.
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Investigators said Miller led them to the home being rented by her boyfriend, and in the back yard police found Ja-Von Brushan dead inside an Igloo cooler.
Titusville residents watched in disbelief as police lifted a small blue tarp behind the home.
"She said she gave the baby back to the mom and the mom said she didn't. And you get a real bad feeling in your stomach," said Titusville Police Chief Tony Bollinger.
The baby's mother, Janelle Richardson, was questioned Monday afternoon by Titusville police. She told investigators she allowed Miller to baby-sit on Tuesday. Friends told WFTV Graham was celebrating her 21st birthday.
On Thursday, relatives told WFTV Miller made a stop for diapers and milk. But later, when Graham tried to reach Miller to get her son, she couldn't be found. Brushan was reported missing on Sunday.
Richardson's cousin, Latanya Burch, spotted Miller Monday morning without her cousin's baby.
"I said, 'Where's the baby?' And she kept telling different lies. Nothing added up," Burch said.
When Burch pointed Miller out to police, they began asking their own questions. They said Miller told them she fell asleep and when she woke up, she found the baby dead. She then disposed of the body.
But some relatives aren't buying that story.
"I think it's a damn shame to kill a baby like that," Burch said.
Miller has a history of problems with the law and with state agents who look after families. The Department of Children and Families wouldn't share specifics, but said it's familiar with Miller.
However, Miller's sister, Lisa Madden, told WFTV she doesn't believe Miller could have harmed the boy or any child.
“She wouldn't hurt that baby. She would never hurt that baby,” said Lisa Madden, Miller’s sister. "She really cared about that baby."
“She probably panicked. You don't know the state of mind when panicking,” said Madden. “You find a baby dead, you know she probably wasn't thinking at the time.”
Miller also has a criminal history dating back to 1993. It includes charges for shoplifting, disorderly conduct and both marijuana and cocaine possession.
Monday night, Titusville police charged Miller in connection to the case. Miller is charged with felony child neglect as well as improper disposal of human remains.
“I'm very devastated. My heart goes out to her very much, you know I've been crying and stuff and just hurt with the whole situation that's been going on,” said Madden.
Investigators said other charges could be filed in the case pending autopsy results on the baby.Copyright 2011 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
