Entrusting a child to a babysitter requires a certain level of trust. No parent expects their little one to suffer abuse or otherwise be harmed when someone else is watching them. But recently, an Ohio man was charged after slamming a 15-month-old’s head on the floor, resulting in her death.
Michael Mayor, 34, of Piqua, Ohio, allegedly attacked the toddler, Vivian Gardner, in early December 2024. The incident reportedly happened when her babysitter left her with Mayor while she took other kids to school. Two weeks later, the child succumbed to her injuries – and Mayor could face more serious charges in the wake of her death.
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In early December, the 15-month-old's babysitter called the police when she wouldn't wake up.
On December 5, the Piqua Police Department responded to the babysitter’s home shortly after 3 p.m., WHIO reported. The babysitter told police the 18-month-old was breathing but unresponsive. Additionally, she said the toddler was “pale, had bruises on her head, and she was unsure of where they came from.”
The babysitter told police she checked on the toddler several times during the day but was worried when she didn’t wake up from her nap by 3 p.m., according to the news outlet.
The toddler was taken to a hospital, where her severe injuries were revealed.
The 15-month-old was flown to Dayton Children’s Hospital, People reported. Doctors told police the toddler had a skull fracture. Additionally, the child had other “complex” injuries from “massive impact,” including a subdural hematoma.
Tragically, the little girl died two weeks later.
For two weeks, the 15-month-old remained at Dayton Children’s Hospital. She ultimately died from her injuries on December 19, the Montgomery County Coroners Office told WHIO. Court documents filed on December 20 stated that the toddler “passed away as a result of the injuries inflicted upon her by” Mayor.
Mayor later admitted to shaking and slamming the toddler.
Mayor allegedly admitted to police that he attacked the toddler because she wouldn’t stop crying when he tried to get her to nap, People reported. He “stated he ‘shook’ her and when she cried louder, he began to ‘slam’ her on the floor of the bedroom,” per a police report. Mayor told police the abuse “was not done on the blankets,” confessing he “did this several times until she stopped crying.”
Once he thought the toddler had fallen asleep, he left her on the bedroom floor and walked away.
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The Ohio man was charged with attacking the 18-month-old and could face additional charges now that the girl has died.
Before the 15-month-old died, Mayor was charged with felonious assault and endangering children, WHIO7 reported. Additional charges have not been filed thus far but could be. Mayor was being held at Miami County Jail on a $1 million bond.
