UPDATE: Visalia daycare operator accused of killing infant won't be charged unless more evidence comes forward
A Visalia daycare operator stands accused of murder after an infant in her care was allegedly abused and later died at Valley Children's Hospital, police announced.
For now, police will need to find more evidence though, after prosecutors said they need more information on what happened.
On Nov. 3, first responders were dispatched to Imagination Playhouse daycare in the 3300 block of Sunnyside Avenue after a 1-year-old girl was reported unconscious.
The girl was rushed to Kaweah Health, where doctors told police they believed her injuries were "non-accidental." The infant was airlifted to Valley Children's in critical condition.
More: Visalia daycare worker accused of severely injuring 1-year-old girl in her care
The infant, who was not identified by police, died as a result of the injuries on Monday. The extent of those injuries wasn't released by detectives.
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Detectives learned through their investigation that the infant was injured while under the sole care of Amanda Taylor, Sgt. Mike Short said. Multiple witnesses told officers that Taylor was the only adult who had contact with the infant during the time that the alleged abuse occurred.
On Nov. 5, Taylor was arrested on allegations of child abuse and booked into jail without bail. The charges were amended to include murder following the infant's death.
On Tuesday, the Tulare County District Attorney's Office announced that it did not have enough evidence to charge Taylor at this time. Prosecutors said they are awaiting a full autopsy and would need time to analyze and review the investigation and other documents.
"An incident as tragic and intricate as this requires a significant amount of information to make a decision to file charges. Unfortunately, we do not possess everything we need to make that decision at this time,” Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos said in a statement. “There are a number of documents we still need to receive and review: a full autopsy report establishing a timeframe and cause of death, complete medical records from this incident as well as the prior medical history for the child, and a full and thorough review of witness statements from parents and those at the daycare facility.
"Our burden of proof requires that we have this information and enough time to thoroughly analyze it.”
Since Taylor's arrest, detectives said additional reports of abuse have been linked to the daycare. It's unclear how many potential victims have come forward with abuse allegations.
Parents whose children may have experienced suspicious injuries at Imagination Playhouse are urged to contact Detective Andrew Saelee at 713-4567. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the tip line at 734-5302.
Taylor's arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday.
Joshua Yeager is a reporter with the Visalia Times-Delta and a Report for America corps member. He covers Tulare County news deserts with a focus on the environment and local governments.
Follow him on Twitter @VTD_Joshy. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: UPDATE: Visalia daycare operator charged with murder after infant dies
