Babysitter charged with murder after infant dies from suspected child abuse

ROSEVILLE — A Roseville woman is facing charges after an infant who was left in her care June 13 suffered severe head injuries, and police reported June 22 that the child had died.

On June 13, Roseville officers were dispatched to a local hospital after they received a report of a small child who was suffering from severe head trauma. Upon arrival, the mother of the child told officers that she had picked up her child from a neighbor who was babysitting while the mother was at work, according to a press release from the department.

While the child’s mother was at work, the babysitter, identified as 21-year-old Kimora Launmei Hodges, of Roseville, notified her that the “child did not appear normal,” the department said.

The mother contacted 911, and an ambulance was dispatched to her apartment. The ambulance transported the child and his mother to the hospital.

The child, 23 months old, lived in the 30000 block of Little Mack Avenue, the department said.

In a press release sent June 21, the department reported that the child had undergone emergency surgery and remained in “very serious condition.” However, the following day, police provided the update that the child had died.

Detectives, with assistance from the Roseville Police Department’s patrol division, were able to locate and arrest Hodges, who police said admitted to physically abusing the child.

Prior to the infant’s death, Hodges was facing a charge of first-degree child abuse, which, if found guilty, carries up to life in prison. After the child died, the department reported that it would be working with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office to enhance the charges. On June 23, police reported that Hodges had been arraigned by 39th District Court Judge Kathleen Tocco on a new charge of felony murder.

On the original charges, Hodges was being held at the Macomb County Jail on a $250,000 bond. However, after the felony murder charge was added, Tocco denied bond.

Hodges is scheduled for a probable cause conference at 8:30 a.m. June 29 in front of District Court Judge Kathleen Tocco. Her attorney, Joan Morgan, declined to comment.