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Speedway day care employee found guilty in death of 11-month-old child

Posted at 10:49 PM, Aug 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-23 08:40:42-04

SPEEDWAY, Ind. – A daycare employee who faced charges over the death of a 11-month-old child at a daycare in Speedway was found guilty Tuesday night.

Karen Tharpe was found guilty of reckless supervision in the death of Taliah Brigham when the child was found unresponsive in a car seat in April 2016 at Miracles and Blessing Daycare Ministry. The verdict carries 6 months to 2-and-a-half years in jail.

"According to her statement, she noticed the child's feet were sticking out much further than the car seat, and took the child out of the seat, put her on the table, and attempted to revive the child," said Terry Curry, Marion County prosecutor.

Brigham died from strangulation in her infant car seat because she wasn’t properly strapped in, according to court records.

Owner of the daycare, Jacqueline Murray, admitted to police she knowingly left Tharpe alone to be responsible for 36 children in three rooms while she left to pick up more children.

Murray was charged with neglect causing death and her trial date is set for September. Tharpe is scheduled to be sentenced September 29.

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