An unlicensed day care provider in North St. Paul was charged with second-degree manslaughter after a 6-month-old girl died of strangulation while in her care.
Amy Jo Englebretson, 43, was charged in Ramsey County District Court with one count of felony second-degree manslaughter.
The infant was found unresponsive in Englebretson's home in the 2300 block of South Avenue about 11:04 a.m. on Aug. 8 and died about 45 minutes later at Children's Hospital. She had become entangled in the straps of her car seat, authorities allege.
"I didn't do it right," Englebretson allegedly told police of her placement of the child in the car seat. "[The strap] was too loose."
According to the criminal complaint: A distraught Englebretson called 911 and let police into her home. She identified herself as the child's day care provider. She told authorities that she placed the infant in a car seat for a nap. She placed the car seat on a bed in the bedroom.
Englebretson said she went into the bedroom once and the child was still asleep. She said she went into the room a second time and saw that the child had "scooted" down in the car seat, causing the strap to wrap around her neck. The child "got strangled up," she allegedly told police.
Englebretson moved the child to the living room and performed CPR before calling 911.
When police arrived, she had nine other children in her care: two 6-year-olds, three 3-year-olds, a 22-month-old, a 17-month-old and two 16-month olds. Englebretson was the only caregiver in the home.
