4-month-old boy dies from abuse by in-home day care worker, Iowa cops say
An in-home day care worker turned herself in to police months after a 4-month-old boy died in her care, Iowa police said.
Melissa Hancock, 51, was charged with first-degree murder on April 23, Indianola police said. The infant died in October 2024, according to court documents. Her attorney information was not listed.
The baby was dropped off at Hancock’s in-home day care on Oct. 8 and was found unresponsive hours later, according to an affidavit. He was airlifted to a hospital in Des Moines and died on Oct. 12, court documents said.
Medical staff discovered the child suffered a traumatic skull fracture, bilateral retinal hemorrhaging and spinal trauma, officials said. They determined the injuries were caused by abuse, according to an affidavit.
Text messages on Hancock’s phone found that she had been frustrated with the baby, the affidavit said.
“Her conduct reflects a callous disregard for his wellbeing. ... The defendant’s actions constitute an assault on a child resulting in death, under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life,” the affidavit said.
Hancock is being held in jail on a $1 million bond, police said.
Indianola is about a 20-mile drive south from Des Moines.
This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 2:51 PM with the headline "4-month-old boy dies from abuse by in-home day care worker, Iowa cops say."
