11 fractures to different areas of the child’s body

A Bushkill babysitter been arrested and is charged with assaulting a todder she cared for, according to Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin and state police.

According to a press release, Erica Duchemin, 29, formerly of Pocono Mountain Lake Estates in Bushkill, was arrested April 12 by the state police. Duchemin is charged in connection with assaulting a 2-year-old boy on multiple occasions between September 2015 and Feb. 4, 2016.

During that time, Duchemin was acting as the boy’s babysitter in her Pike County home. Duchemin has been charged with aggravated assault of a child under 13, endangering the welfare of children, intimidation, retaliation or obstruction in a child abuse case, all felonies, and recklessly endangering another person, a misdemeanor.

This is the first case in Pike County to charge the newly enacted law specifically aimed at intimidation, retaliation or obstruction in a child abuse investigation.

According to the arrest affidavit, on Dec. 10, the child was brought to the emergency room by his mother after she discovered his arm to be very swollen when washing him that morning. X-rays showed a fracture in the child’s arm. The child was in the care of Duchemin the prior day and when picked up, Duchemin did not advise the boy’s mother of any incidents involving injury. When asked about the injury, Duchemin attempted to explain that the injuries accidentally occurred on the steps of her home.

These injuries triggered Pocono Medical Center to contact Childline, Pennsylvania’s hotline for mandated reporting of child abuse. Pike County Children and Youth Services and state police responded to the report. The report by PMC indicated excessive force was required to cause the injury to the child’s arm and medical records recommended evaluation for non-accidental trauma.

However, prior to the child’s first follow-up appointment for his injuries and prior to receipt of any medical documentation, Pike County Children and Youth advised state police that their impression was that Duchemin was preventing the child from falling or getting hurt.

The boy’s parents then resumed placing him in Duchemin’s care on his three-day-a-week schedule.

On Feb. 4, the boy’s mother related that at approximately 3:20 p.m. she received a call from Duchemin who informed her that her son was ill. The mother directed Duchemin to transport the victim to the hospital. She met Duchemin and her son at Pocono Medical Center. Duchemin did not accompany the boy into the hospital, a press release from the Pike County DA's office said.

The boy’s condition was grave and he was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital where he had emergency life-saving surgery. Doctors observed scattered bruising throughout the child’s body and X-rays uncovered additional multiple fractures in areas consistent with non-accidental injury. A board certified child abuse specialist described the boy’s injuries as a result of direct blunt trauma that would have been immediately symptomatic.

A review of a skeletal scan generated from the incident in December, by a board certified pediatric radiologist, revealed 11 fractures to different areas of the boy’s body which were in various stages of healing. At least one of these fractures is highly specific to child abuse cases. The hand of the boy also showed signs of being fractured.

The arrest affidavit states that state police interviewed Duchemin during their investigation. Duchemin provided the name of a friend who worked in a dermatologist’s office that she said she took the child to see for treatment of swelling and blistering hands. The investigation revealed that the individual referenced by Duchemin never worked in a dermatologist’s office, recently graduated with a social work degree and never met the boy. The individual met Duchemin while they were incarcerated together.

Duchemin indicated to state police that she was previously arrested for pushing her mother, but records show that in 2009 she was convicted of aggravated assault in New Jersey for an assault which detached and tore the retina of her mother’s eyes.

Duchemin was arrested in Milford, following a visit at the office of Pike County Children and Youth Services on Tuesday.

District Magistrate Paul Menditto arraigned Duchemin. State police requested bail in the amount of $250,000 citing the fact that Duchemin recently relocated out of state and her criminal history. Menditto set bail at $100,000. Duchemin is in the Pike County Correctional Facility.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 26 at 12:30 p.m.

In early February, someone started a Go Fund Me fundraiser on Duchemin's behalf aimed at raising $10,000. The fund had $1,300 at last glance.