Lincolnshire Daycare Owner Charged

Police say owner impeded their investigation

A Lincolnshire daycare center was closed in January after a worker there was accused of killing a 16-month-old boy in her care.

Now, the owner of the daycare operation faces charges of obstruction of justice relative to the case.

Attorneys for Judith Katz, owner of the now-closed Minee Subee in the Park day care center where Benjamin Kingan was killed on Jan. 14, released a statement this morning saying Katz turned herself in to Lincolnshire police on the obstruction of justice charge, which "relates to their (authorities') investigation of Benjamin Kingan's death."

Authorities claim Katz tried to conceal that the center had been in violation of a staffing law.

Lincolnshire Police Detective John-Erik Anderson said, following the boy's death, Katz gathered employees and told them two staff members were in the room when Benjamin died.  Police say their investigation leaves them certain that the only staff member in the room was the woman accused in the boy's death, 22-year old Melissa Calusinski.

Calusinski, of Carpentersville, remains in Lake County Jail, held on $5 million bail, and  charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery of a child.

Police said Calusinski, frustrated by the behavior of the children in the room, threw Benjamin to the floor, cracking his skull, and then left him to die.

Police said at the time that the baby picked up his blanket and crawled to a chair they called his "comfort zone."

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