Burlington Woman Charged In Death Of Infant
BURLINGTON (CBS) - A Burlington woman was arraigned Friday on a charge of murder and operating an unlicensed daycare inside her apartment.
Pallavi Macharla, 40, was arrested at her home Friday afternoon and arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court. She faces brutal charges of violence against a six month old baby girl who prosecutors say was shaken and suffered severe head injuries from blows to the head exactly one year ago.
Prosecutors say the baby was healthy when she was dropped off at Macharla's apartment in the morning. But after a feeding she became ill and vomited. "At that point it is reported she became unconscious, stopped breathing, and was not responsive," said prosecutor Katherine Folger.
Prosecutors say Macharla, who is a licensed doctor in her native India, did not call 911 but called the baby's mother at work. "The victim's mother rushed to the apartment and took hold of the child who was limp. She handed the child back to the defendant and called 911 herself," said Folger.
By the time the infant was rushed to Lahey Clinic she was "essentially comatose," said Folger, and was transferred to Children's Hospital where she died three days later.
Prosecutors say Macharla even left the home for a period of time to pickup her own son, but gave misleading statements to police. They also say she had spoken recently of returning home to India.
Her attorney says she has been cooperative in the last year while the investigation unfolded, but agreed to have her held without bail pending a bail hearing next week.