Child Neglect Alleged Against Babysitter After Biting Incident
Posted
Michael Anderson-manderson@timesuniononline.com
A babysitter is facing a neglect charge after a mother found 31 bite marks on her child.
Theresa Bumblis, 26, of 209 E. Barrington Place, Warsaw, is facing one felony charge of neglect of a dependent. She was charged Friday and is scheduled for a initial hearing Nov. 15 in Kosciusko Superior Court III.
Bumblis was not arrested, but issued a summons to appear in court to answer the charges.
The case was reported to Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department on Aug. 8 when Lauren Wilson called about bite marks on her 16-month-old child.
Bumblis was babysitting Wilson’s 16-month-old girl and 3-year-old boy along with children.
Bumblis called Wilson to report the 3-year-old had been bitten by another kid she was watching, according to court records.
Wilson said she sent someone to go pick up her son, then she went to pick up her daughter around 5 p.m.
After Wilson got home and changed the toddler’s diaper, she found 31 bite marks on her daughter.
Wilson went back and spoke with Bumblis. Wilson said Bumblis told her she babysat a 2-year-old with a biting problem, but she wasn’t aware of any bite marks on the girl, Wilson said.
Myra Barnett, Wilson’s grandmother, said they began to use Bumblis for babysitting services because they lived in the same subdivision. Barnett said Bumblis can have anywhere from six to 10 children in her care at a time.
A search of state child care license records shows no license for Bumblis. State law allows a person to babysit up to five children unrelated to the provider without obtaining a license.
Unlicensed providers are not subject to annual inspections.
Police say they spoke with Bumblis, who said she wasn’t aware of any bite marks on the 16-month-old.
Bumblis said she put all the children down for a nap in the master bedroom, and then about 15 minutes later she heard Wilson’s daughter cry.
She gave her a snack and put her back to bed. The mother picked up the children about 5 p..m.
Bumblis said she didn’t hear the child cry again even though she had over 30 bite marks on her.
“She would have been screaming bloody murder,” Barnett said.
Barnett said her main concern is for the children still in Bumblis' care.
