Babysitter charged with Child Abuse after
allegedly throwing infant

IONIA, MI – An Ionia County woman is now charged with first-degree child abuse involving an 8-month-old baby.

Police say Thomas Pierson suffered three skull fractures and a brain bleed while in the care of Autumn Skuse.

Skuse was arrested Monday and charged Tuesday morning in Ionia District Court. Police say she initially told them the child had fallen.

Rachel Pierson, the baby’s mother, says Skuse was recommended to them and they interviewed her twice before hiring her.

“You would never, never, guess she would have done this to him,” Pierson said. “I still can’t believe it. He’s a great baby.”

Baby Thomas was taken to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, where doctors told the parents the injuries were not consistent with a fall.

Pierson says Skuse contacted her over the weekend.

“She says she snapped and dropped him, Pierson said. “She said he was supposed to land on a pillow. Obviously he didn’t. She said she was abused herself as a child and she’s going to the mental health hospital.”

Skuse was given a $50,000 bond Tuesday morning.

In addition to the skull fractures, the boy had several broken ribs.

Thomas is back home with his mother and father. Rachel says they are taking his recovery one day at a time, but so far, he seems to be doing well.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by Thomas’s mother if you would like to help with his recovery. On the page, his mother wrote, “Baby Thomas is home and did well last night. No seizures still… thank God! #JusticeforThomas.”