Babysitter charged in death of 11-month-old Ocala boy

OCALA, Fla. — A 21-year-old woman was arrested Thursday after Marion County detectives said she was responsible for an infant’s death.

Deputies said Nora Boles was babysitting 11-month-old John Smith in September when she became frustrated with the child’s crying and threw him across the room.

Boles called the child’s mother and said the infant wouldn’t wake up, a report said.

“She got a call later from the babysitter saying that the child was not responsive and needed to go to the hospital,” said Lauren Lettelier of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

The mother took the child to the hospital where he died a day later from severe head injuries, deputies said.

Deputies said Boles changed her story about what happened several times, but then later admitted she threw the child across the room.

With the help of witness testimony, evidence and more interviews with Boles, investigators were able to find out what happened.

Boles was arrested on a bench warrant and is facing a first-degree murder charge.

The baby’s grandmother, Barbara Smith, said John spent his short life living with her and her daughter in her home.

“He was always happy. You could walk into a room being the saddest person and he’d grin, and you were happy,” Smith said. “We just loved him to the end of the Earth and back.”

Cox Media Group