🔴 Toddler was abused and died

🔴 Babysitter claims child was injured

🔴 Prosecutors said medical experts found she lied

IRVINGTON — A woman found guilty of manslaughter faces ten years in prison for the death of a two-year-old boy in her care.

Claire Gelin, 44, of Irvington was convicted Friday of manslaughter and two counts of child endangerment.

Her trial in Essex County Superior Court lasted seven days, according to Essex County District Attorney Theodore Stephens.

Gelin looked after the toddler from February 15 to 19, 2021.

Prosecutors said the child was physically abused in the days before his death. Gelin waited until the third day before calling the police.

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The rescue workers found the child in cardiac arrest. Shortly afterwards, the toddler was declared dead in the hospital.

Her sentencing is scheduled for October 7.

Babysitter claims child hurt himself

More than a year after the child’s death, Gelin started a petition on Change.org, stating that the victim had been physically abused by someone else.

Gelin said she was asked by her niece’s friend, the boy’s mother, to babysit the toddler. Gelin claimed the baby was injured during an argument between his mother and father and then injured his head in a fall in the bathroom of their home.

However, prosecutors said their story was refuted by medical experts.

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