Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Shamika Ramos (age 31), of Pawtucket, was found guilty August 1, 2017 of second degree child abuse by a jury after a four-day trial presided over by Superior Court Justice Sarah Taft-Carter.
During the trial, the State proved that in April, 2014, Ramos, a foster parent at the time, caused physical injuries to a two-year old boy who was in her care.
It became apparent that the injuries were inflicted rather than accidental when the child was brought to Hasbro Children's Hospital. The child was displaying symptoms associated with a subgaleal hematoma, bleeding resulting from the child's scalp being torn off his skull bone. It was discovered while he was at the hospital that the child also had injuries to his ears.
Dr. Christine Barron, Director of the Child Safe Program at the Lawrence A. Aubin Child Protection Center at Hasbro Children's Hospital, testified as an expert for the State. She testified that, in her opinion, the injuries were consistent with child abuse. Dr. Barron testified that the subgaleal hematoma was an acute injury and was inflicted upon the two-year old within 12 – 24 hours from the time the child was evaluated at Hasbro Children's Hospital by her on April 30, 2014.
Other witnesses testified as to the events that occurred within that 12 - 24 hour time frame and that the two-year old began displaying symptoms of the subgaleal hematoma while he was alone with Ramos.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 19, 2017.
Pawtucket Police Detective Susan Cormier led the investigation and Special Assistant Attorneys General Shannon Signore and Siobhan Bogosian prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.