Child care worker arrested for assault and neglect

Operating an unlicensed daycare center

Scott County – Friday, June 7, 2024: Indiana State Police (ISP) officers arrested a child care worker in Austin, Indiana, Friday evening following an ISP investigation involving an injured 8-month-old child.

ISP Detective Travis Baker began the investigation on May 30^th of this year when he met the child’s mother and father at Norton’s Children’s Hospital in Louisville. Detective Baker learned that the mother initially took the child to Scott Memorial Hospital after noticing a wound on the child’s back when she picked her up from Lauren Salyers, who was caring for her. During his investigation, Detective Baker also learned that 26-year-old Lauren R. Salyers operated an unlicensed, private daycare center from her residence in Austin, Indiana. After arriving at the hospital, a rescue helicopter flew the child to Norton’s Children’s Hospital in Louisville. Norton’s pediatricians treated the child for a skull fracture as well as a broken left arm.

Detective Baker continued his investigation and interviewed Lauren Salyer and other people who had contact with the child in the previous hours. At the conclusion of his investigation, Detective Baker turned all information over to the Scott County Prosecutor for review and requested a warrant for Salyer’s arrest.

On Friday, June 7, 2024, the Scott County District Court issued an arrest warrant for Lauren R. Salyers for assault and neglect of a dependent, both charges being Level 3 felonies.

Salyers was arrested by police at her Austin residence Friday afternoon and taken to the Scott County Jail without incident.