Indiana State Police Troopers arrested an Austin childcare provider Friday evening, June 7, after an investigation involving an injured 8-month-old child.
Lauren R. Salyers, 26, of Austin was charged with felony counts of battery and neglect of dependent.
ISP Detective Travis Baker began the investigation on May 30 when he met with the child’s mother and father at Norton’s Children’s Hospital in Louisville. The officer learned the mother initially rushed the child to the Scott Memorial Hospital after finding a wound on the back of the child’s head when she picked the infant up from Salyers, who was providing childcare.
After arriving at the local hospital, a medical helicopter transported the infant to Norton’s Children’s Hospital in Louisville. Norton’s pediatric doctors treated the child for a skull fracture as well as a fractured left arm.
During his investigation, Baker also learned that Salyers provided unlicensed, private daycare from her Austin residence.
Baker interviewed Salyers and others who had contact with the child in the preceding hours. The officer supplied all information to the Scott County Prosecutor who issued an arrest warrant for Salyers.
Salyers was arrested by troopers at her Austin residence and transported to the Scott County Jail where she remains as of the newspaper press deadline awaiting her first appearance in Scott Circuit Court.