Essex County Babysitter Convicted Of Manslaughter After Toddler Dies

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A woman in Essex County was recently found guilty of manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child after her abuse led to the death of a toddler she was babysitting, authorities said.

Claire Gelin, 44, of Irvington, was babysitting a 2-year-old child “around the clock” in her apartment from Feb. 15 to Feb. 19 in 2021. The child sustained serious injuries from physical abuse on Feb. 17 and Feb. 18, but Gelin did not seek aid until she called 9-1-1 on Feb. 19, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

When emergency responders arrived at the scene, the child was in cardiac arrest. The toddler was rushed to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital, prosecutors said.

Gelein told detectives that the injuries were caused by the victim, a claim that was contradicted by medical experts, prosecutors said.

An Essex County jury has convicted Gelin, 44 of manslaughter and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors said. She faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison on the manslaughter conviction, subject to the No Early Release Act, prosecutors said.

Gelin will remain in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark pending her sentencing, which is scheduled for Oct. 7.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.