Crime & Safety
Babysitter Charged with Striking Friend's 1-Year-Old Daughter: Wallingford Police
A 23-year-old woman allegedly hit the infant while babysitting and tried to blame a friend's dog for the injuries, police said.
WALLINGFORD, CT — A 23-year-old Wallingford woman is accused of abusing her friend’s 1-year-old daughter while she was babysitting and tried to blame the injuries on a friend’s dog, according to police.
Wallingford Police arrested Hannah Figluizzi, of 251 Quinnipiac Street, on a warrant following an investigation that began April 1 after the department received a child abuse complaint filed by the Department of Children and Families.
The complaint was regarding the physical abuse of a 1-year-old girl and investigation revealed that Figluizzi was friends with the mother of the child and would often babysit the infant, according to Lt. Cheryl Bradley.
On March 31, the mother received a text message from Figluizzi, who was babysitting at the time. The text message indicated that the daughter had received some scratches to her face, according to Bradley.
Bradley said Figluizzi told the mother that it was caused by her friend’s dog getting excited and scratching her.
The mother then made contact with the owner of the dog who informed her that his dog was not responsible for the injuries to the child.
The mother was suspicious of Figluizzi’s account of what happened and took the infant to her pediatrician, who confirmed that the Figluizzi’s version didn't seem to match up with the injuries sustained, according to Bradley.
“It was subsequently determined and investigators captured evidence to show that Figluizzi tried to get her friend to cover for her because she had taken her stress and anger out on the child by striking her in the face, causing the injury,” Bradley wrote in a press release.
Figluizzi was charged with third-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a child. She was released after posting a $5,000 bond and issued a court date of May 4.
Pictured: Hannah Figluizzi, 23, of Quinnipiac Street / Wallingford Police Department
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
