Father wants capital charge in baby’s death

The post mortem examination conducted on two year old Vernice Rodriguez certified that she died from head trauma caused by a blunt instrument. That injury presumably occurred while the child was under the care of Danna Banner, a resident of Ladyville, who for the past week had been the full-time guardian of baby Vernice. News Five was on hand for the results of the post mortem and spoke with Vernice’s father, Hayedon Rodriguez, who called on authorities to press for the maximum penalty against whomever is responsible.

Hayedon Rodriguez, Father, Vernice Rodriguez
“As far as I concerned, dis da murder and I want capital charge. Dat da weh I want see. Dat da murder, nothing less than murder and I want wah murder charge. No manslaughter, no negligence; murder … no bail.”

Marion Ali
“This was the same babysitter that you entrusted your child …”

Hayedon Rodriguez
“Exactly. Well, somebody—I noh know if dah she or dah I boyfriend but somebody have to pay for it. ih noh matta who, but somebody have to pay for it.”

Marion Ali
“When she informed you that your child was in the hospital what did she say and how did she inform you?”

Hayedon Rodriguez
“She didn’t inform me. She informed my girlfriend, told her that my daughter was only sick in the hospital but I had already gotten message from the police saying that my daughter was in critical condition. So she was trying to sugar coat it. that in itself should say something about this whole case. She was to tell me that nothing was wrong with my daughter and she know that she had just killed my daughter. Da mi di last thing I mi ever expect mi wah ever happen to me. But right now I can’t seh much because da neva something weh I mi think I wah eva have to di talk about.”

Marion Ali
“When was the last time you saw your daughter and how did she appear?”

Hayedon Rodriguez
“I saw her on Monday of last week. I brought her over to my house from the babysitter’s mom to come see my mom and she was perfectly alright. She didn’t have any scratches except for the sore on her foot that was getting better but apart from that she was ok.”

Rodriguez says he ended up with responsibility for his daughter because before she was born he and the child’s mother, Rynelee Gonzalez, had decided that because of a medical condition that Gonzalez suffers from, he would take over custody of Vernice. But then he opened up a bar in Cayo and decided thereafter that it was not the best environment in which to raise a child. So a month ago he hired the services of Danna Banner to baby sit for him in Santa Elena. Banner offered to bring the child to her home in Ladyville last Tuesday when she moved back there. It was from that home that the child was rushed to the K.H.M.H. on Sunday after Banner claimed the child had collapsed.