Burlington Child Care Provider Arraigned on Child Homicide Charges

A Burlington woman was arraigned Friday in Middlesex Superior Court on murder charges and operating an unlicensed child care program following the death of a child in her care last year.

Pallavi Macharla, 40, of Burlington was held without bail pending a further bail hearing next week.

“This incident is yet another tragic example of a situation in which a caregiver has allegedly inflicted injuries on a baby,” said Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan. “Much has been done in this state regarding education on the issue of shaken baby syndrome but clearly this is a stark reminder that prevention programs must continue. It is striking how we still see such disregard for human life in certain cases in which adults leave children alone, fail to get medical help for infants in medical distress, and physically abuse someone so young.”

“This is a terribly tragic situation involving the loss of a young, innocent life,” Burlington Police Chief Michael Kent said. “I commend all of the investigators involved in this case for their diligence, and I want to acknowledge the efforts of District Attorney Ryan’s Office in bringing this case forward.”

One year ago, on Thursday, March 27, 2014, a 6-month-old baby girl was left in the care of a neighbor, Pallavi Macharla, who regularly provided child care for the baby, according to Ryan.

According to the District Attorney’s office, it’s alleged that at approximately 2:40 p.m. that day, Macharla called the baby’s mother to say the baby was not breathing. The mother drove to Macharla’s home and saw Macharla performing mouth-mouth respirations on her daughter who was limp and non responsive. The mother immediately called 911. The defendant reported the baby became unresponsive after vomiting following a feeding. First responders arriving at the residence on Baron Park Lane in Burlington found the baby unresponsive, pulseless and apneic. The child was transported by ambulance to Lahey Hospital and then to Boston Children’s Hospital where she was pronounced dead on March 30, 2014.

Diagnostic tests and studies were performed, which revealed the baby was suffering from diffuse subdural hemorrhaging, diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhaging, diffuse and multilayered bilateral retinal hemorrhages and retinoschisis. Additionally, she was found to have multiple vertebral compression fractures to the base of the thoracic spine and upper lumbar spine, which were dated to have been inflicted on March 27, 2014, and were consistent with forceful axial loading or extreme hyperflexion such as seen in shaking. The medical team opined that the injuries were consistent with Abusive Head Trauma. At autopsy, bilateral subscalpular hemorrhages and multiple subperiosteal hemorrhages were revealed. The cause of death was ruled “blunt force and shaking injuries of head.”

Authorities say the defendant did not have a daycare license and was cited by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care for providing unlicensed child care in her home.

This case is being investigated by the Burlington Police Department and State Police assigned to the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Parents and guardians of young children should be aware that the MA Department of Early Education and Care is responsible for licensing certain child care programs such as center-based and in-home day care programs. In order to obtain a license, programs must be healthy and safe, maintain appropriate ratios of teachers and children, undergo criminal background checks, and receive specialized training in child development and curriculum implementation. Guardians can visit the EEC website to determine whether a program or provider is in fact licensed and call EEC to request a compliance history.”