Atlanta, GA: 11 Year-Old Babysitter Arrested for Toddler's Death

Ashlea Collier is the mother of the 2-year-old baby girl, Zyda White, who apparently was left in the care of an 11 year-old child; Zyda is now dead. What is wrong with this whole situation? Police announced on Tuesday that an arrest has been made and someone has been charged. An 11-year-old-babysitter has been charged with felony murder and child cruelty for the death of little Zyda.

According to reports, the toddler's injuries included blunt force trauma to the torso and buttock and a head injury. With all due respect to the mother, who is indeed suffering and mourning for her daughter, no mother should have to bury their child, but one has to question her decision to leave a 2 year-old in the care of a child.

Parents have the responsibility of making sure their children are safe. There is no way an eleven year old child can care for a toddler properly. Sure, the babysitter may have been great with little kids, but in the event of an emergency even an adult may panic. Reports are stating that the babysitter said the child had fell out of bed. However, the injuries sustained are not common for a child falling out of bed, whatever happened to cause such severe and fatal injuries obviously was more than that 11 year-old "child" could deal with.

Hypothetically speaking, let's say the toddler was acting out and the 11 year-old girl lost control and did something to cause the injuries. Shouldn't the parent(s) of both the toddler and child babysitter be held responsible for neglecting both children. An eleven year old child is not emotionally mature enough to care for and keep a toddler safe, especially in an emergency situation. This is outrageous, arresting and charging that young girl/babysitter is incomprehensible.

How can it be the adult(s) that put a child that young in a position to bear full responsibility for another life are not being held accountable. Who ever left that 2 year-old baby girl unattended and in the care of an eleven year old kid should be partially responsible at the very least.

Children age 12 and under are prosecuted as juveniles in Georgia and can be locked up until they are 21 years old. What a price this child will pay because the adults in her life were negligent and irresponsible. The 11 year-old babysitter is probably traumatized, confused and drowning in guilt. She probably needs psychological and emotional help rather than being locked up like a criminal.

Parents need to be more responsible when it comes to choosing who they leave their children with, and leaving a 2 year-old alone with an 11 year-old to care for is just wrong. It should be illegal. Little Zyda may still be with us today had she not been left alone in the care of a child. In the author's opinion, eleven is much too young to be babysitting.

Sources:
Baby Sitter, 11, Charged With Murdering 2-Year-Old
An 11-Year-Old Babysitter Is Charged With Murder: How Young Is Too Young to Care for Kids?