VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A former Virginia Beach childcare provider is on trial for the death of a 4-month-old boy who died in her care.
Virginia Beach Police charged 42-year old Shayn Csatlos on 2nd Degree Murder and felony child abuse in 2020, more than a year after the incident.
On September 17, 2019, a 4-month-old stopped breathing at the childcare facility run out of Csatlos' home on Perrel Street.
Police and EMS on the scene began life-saving efforts upon arrival, and brought the infant to the hospital. He died just three days later.
According to prosecutors, doctors discovered the baby had multiple brain bleeds, in addition to two fractured fingers. They believed this to be a sign of abuse that could have happened in the defendant's home.
Prosecutors also said Csatlos changed her story about what happened inside the home multiple times, from leaving the baby alone to sleep, to being in the room feeding him when he died.
Csatlos' attorneys said her confusion stemmed from trauma. She has cooperated with police through every step of the investigation.
Csatlos immediately called 911 and alerted the child's parents, her attorneys said.
There is also debate between both sides about the cause of the baby's death.
Csatlos' attorneys argued he could have died because of chronic meningitis that caused the brain bleeds. They also said the brain bleeds could have started days before the child arrived at the defendant's home.
Prosecutors refuted the claim, and said they plan to bring in several doctors as expert witnesses for abuse and shaken baby syndrome.
The trial is expected to last three to four days.