Woman Convicted in Daycare Death Thanks Supporters

The former day care worker convicted for causing the death of a 16-month-old Deerfield boy in 2009 says she is staying strong and not giving up on hopes her conviction will be reversed in light of new X-ray evidence causing the boy’s manner of death to be ruled “undetermined.”

Melissa Calusinski, a Carpentersville woman who is serving a 31-year prison sentence for a 2012 first-degree murder conviction, reached out to her supporters through family, who left her message on the “Free Melissa Calusinski” Facebook page which now has 3,345 followers.

“Knowing that I have tons of supporters who are trying to help in every way they can, it makes my days so much better and stronger,” Calusinski’s statement read. “I’m just so thankful and grateful for everyone trying to help my attorney, and helping to support my family and me. It makes me happy and it helps my family get through the days as well. Every day is a struggle, but I continue with my faith and strength. Thank you for all your continuing support. I will not give up.”

Calusinski admitted to causing the death of 1-year-old Benjamin Kingan at a Lincolnshire daycare in January 2009, but only after an interrogation that last nine hours and after 79 denials. She has since contended the confession was coerced. The new X-rays in the case also showed the boy may have died from a pre-existing head injury and not of a skull fracture.

Also on Patch: 2009 Minee Subee Daycare Killing Profiled on CBS’ 48 Hours

The Calusinski case, which has been profiled as a possible miscarriage of justice by CBS’ 48 Hours program, could also become an issue in the upcoming race for Lake County State’s Attorney, which pits incumbent Michael Nerheim, who has defended the prosecution of Calusinski but has not made a statement since Coroner Thomas Rudd changed the manner of death to undetermined and current Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, who expressed skepticism of Calusinski’s guilt and the guilt of others prosecuted by Nerheim and others who have previously held the State’s Attorney’s post.

“I watched the stories on Channel 2 News, I watched the 48 Hours piece,” Curran told CBS-Chicago. “Do I have great questions regarding her guilt? Absolutely. No doubt about it.”

Also on Patch: Protesters Call for Release of Melissa Calusinski

“In the last five years, six men have been cleared of rape or murder,” the sheriff told the Lake County News-Sun when he announced his candidacy in the March 2016 Republican primary. “The men spent about 100 years collectively behind bars before they were exonerated.” All those were under the watch of Michael Waller, but Curran said Nerheim has done “nothing to raise the caliber of the office.”

He says Nerheim has kept many of Waller’s key assistants on staff.

Nerheim did not respond to Curran’s comments himself, but his campaign sent a statement to both CBS-2-Chicago and the Lake County News-Sun.

“Mike’s commitment to all of the citizens of Lake County has always been to ensure that his office seeks justice at all time, safeguards victim’s rights and protect the citizens of Lake County,” it says in part.

Administrators of the ‘Free Melissa Calusinski’ Facebook page have urged supporters to contact the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Illinois Attorney General to support “an independent review of Melissa’s case by medical experts.”

“Express to them that it is fundamentally unfair for their office to rely on false evidence to secure a conviction, and that Melissa should be given a new trial.”

A petition on Change.org asking prosecutors to “Free Melissa Calusinski” has 2,698 signatures as of Monday, August 17.