Another baby dies from apparent abuse
For the second time in as many weeks, an infant has died from apparent abuse by a caregiver. The baby, two year old Vernice Rodriguez, was reportedly left in the care of a full time babysitter—twenty year old Danna Banner—who lived at this house behind the basketball court on Marage Road in Ladyville along with her common-law husband, Charles Hyde. The child ended up with the babysitter because her mother, twenty-two year old Rynelee Gonzalez, had left her in her father’s custody. The father, Haydon Rodriguez, lives in Cayo and was supporting baby Vernice but not providing personal care. When News Five arrived on the scene we found no one at home and a line full of clothes. A neighbour, who did not wish to appearon camera, told us that she started seeing Banner with the child about a month ago and that the baby would cry for hours at a time. Yesterday it was that neighbour’s boyfriend who helped rush the child to the K.H.M.H. after Banner said she was having problems breathing.
Baby Vernice died shortly before three on Sunday afternoon. When police observed the little girl at the hospital that morning, they noticed she had bruises on the back and abdomen, and burn marks on the left foot. Police have detained Banner and Hyde for questioning. At today’s news conference Assistant Commissioner Allen Whylie said Rodriguez was travelling to Belize to give an account of his daughter’s appearance and added that the Department was doing all it could to bring those responsible for both child killings, that of baby Vernice Rodriguez and baby Delcy Whyte, to justice.
Allen Whylie, Assistant Commissioner of Police
“Hopefully he will shed some light in terms of when last he saw that child, what was her physical condition. We have no information to indicate that the child was sexually assaulted at this point in time. These two cases are heinous in nature and I want to assure the public that we’ll be leaving no stone unturned to get to the bottom of these two incidents.”
Upon observing the injuries, the attending doctor called a social worker who then informed police of the situation. Police are now awaiting the results of the post mortem which will be conducted tomorrow. Hyde and Banner reportedly have a child of their own who is younger than baby Vernice.
