Austin childcare worker arrested for neglecting 8-month-old child

SCOTTSBURG, Ind. (WISH) – An Austin child care worker was arrested Friday for neglecting an 8-month-old child, according to an Indiana State Police news release.

ISP detectives began the investigation on May 30 after meeting the child’s mother and father at Norton’s Children Hospital in Louisville. Investigators learned that the mother initially took the child to Scott Memorial Hospital after discovering a wound on the back of the child’s head when she picked him up from 26-year-old Lauren Salyers, who was caring for the child. During the investigation, investigators learned that Salyers operated an unlicensed, private daycare center from her residence in Austin, Indiana.

After arriving at the hospital, the child was transported by rescue helicopter to Norton’s Children Hospital in Louisville. Norton’s pediatricians treated the child for a skull fracture and a broken wrist.

Investigators conducted interviews with Salyers and other people who had contact with the child in the preceding hours. At the conclusion of the investigation, investigators turned all information over to the Scott County District Attorney’s Office for review and requested an arrest warrant for Salyers.

On Friday, Scott County District Court issued a warrant for Salyers’ arrest on charges of assault and neglect of a dependent person, both Level 3 felonies.

Salyers was arrested by ISP officers at her Austin home Friday afternoon and taken to the Scott County Jail without incident.