Power indicted by Grand Jury
Published on September 10th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - Ann Power, a 54 year-old Reading resident accused of running an illegal daycare operation that has seen two children die in its care, was indicted by a Middlesex Superior Court Grand Jury on charges of murdering a Stoneham baby and operation of an unlicensed daycare facility.
The jury returned with an indictment on Tuesday morning in Cambridge, but no Superior Court arraignment date has been scheduled according to Middlesex District Attorney spokesmen Seth Horwitz.
"There isn't anything scheduled yet, but presumably by today or tomorrow something will be scheduled," said Horwitz.
According to Horwitz, an arrest warrant was obtained from Woburn District Court on the morning of Friday, Aug. 1, and Ann Power, 54, of 16 Francis Drive, Reading, was arrested by Reading Police in her Reading home at 10:15 a.m.
Power was arrested in connection to the death of MacKenzie Rose Corrigan, three months old, of Stoneham, who perished while at her illegal day care on Wednesday, June 4.
The arrest followed an autopsy from the State Medical Examiner's Office that revealed evidence of "shaken baby syndrome including brain damage and retinal bleeding", according to Horwitz.
"Authorities believe that Power physically assaulted Corrigan while the infant was in her care," said Horwitz.
Power pled not guilty to the charges, and was arraigned at Woburn District Court, and was released on $10,000 cash bail.
Power was originally due back in Woburn District Court on Aug. 29, for a status report, but, according to an item first reported in the Reading Daily Times Chronicle, the Middlesex County DA was seeking a Grand Jury Indictment in Middlesex Superior Court.
"I expect that the District Attorney will seek a murder indictment from the Grand Jury in Cambridge Superior Court," said Reading Lt. Det. Kevin Patterson to the Chronicle. "Once that happens, the case in Woburn District Court will be dismissed, and a Superior Court Judge will take over the case."
According to the same report in the Chronicle, DA officials may also re-open the case of an infant death in Power's care in 1984.
At the time, an investigation ruled the death as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), but Middlesex County DA officials are now reviewing the details of the case in light of the recent charges.
Middlesex County DA Martha Coakley stated that she was fully confident in the legitimacy of the charges.
"We are confident in the basics of this charge," said Coakley, who also added that Corrigan's parents were unaware of the unlicensed status of Power's day care. "At the time, she (Coakley) was the only adult there."
At approximately 12:39 p.m. on June 4, Reading Police reported to an illegal day care on Francis Drive for an unresponsive baby. According to Reading police reports, police arrived and found the baby "unconscious and unresponsive."
The infant was transported by ambulance to Winchester Hospital, and was transferred to Children's Hospital in Boston shortly thereafter. On Thursday, June 5, at approximately 7:10 p.m., Corrigan was pronounced dead by physicians at Children's Hospital.
According to a report obtained from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Office of Child Care Services (OCCS), there was a current cease-and-desist order on the Francis Drive day care center.
"In 1994 there were allegations of abuse and over-enrollment," said OCCS Child Care Service Spokesperson Jessica Hanley of allegations that a "two year-old was grabbed by the throat by the provider because the child whined too much."
According to Hanley, Power was licensed to care for four children during her 1980-1994 stint as a licensed day care provider. During the home inspection by the OCCS, Power was caring for 9-10 infants and 9-10 older children at one time.
According to the report, "the older children were made to take the younger children downstairs or on the back porch when any visitor comes to the home."
"In family child care, you can have a maximum of six kids in your care," said Hanley, who added that Power was licensed for four people. "The number depends on what your license says."
According to Hanley, there were 13 children ranging from three months-old to six years-old, including five infants on the day of the emergency.
Hanley also outlined three instances when OCCS officials filed cease-and-desist orders on the Francis Drive day care center.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!