(Trappe, MD) Maryland State Police investigators arrested a Talbot County woman last night on multiple counts of child abuse, assault, reckless endangerment and manslaughter after an infant she was caring for died in the hospital.
The deceased is identified as Trevor Ulrich, 9 months old, of Dorchester County. He was pronounced dead at Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, September 3, 2009. Autopsy results revealed the child died of inflicted head trauma which is an injury associated with Shaken Baby Syndrome.
The accused is identified as Gail Dobson, 52, of the 3800 block of Harrison Court in Trappe, Maryland. Dobson is being charged with manslaughter, first degree child abuse resulting in death, two counts each of second degree child abuse, reckless endangerment, first degree assault, second degree assault, and one count of first degree child abuse causing severe injury. She is currently being held at the Talbot County Detention Center on $750,000 bond.
Yesterday evening, Dobson was arrested by Maryland State Police investigators from the Homicide Unit. She was arrested at the Easton Barracks and taken to the Talbot County court commissioner for her initial appearance.
At about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 2, 2009, a 9-1-1 call was received from Dobson, a licensed day care provider. She requested an ambulance to respond to her residence. She reported Trevor was allegedly having trouble breathing.
Shortly after the call, paramedics from the Trappe Volunteer Fire Department arrived to find the child in full cardiac arrest. The child was transported to Easton Memorial Hospital and later flown to Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. for further treatment.
At approximately 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 3, state police investigators from the Easton Barracks received a phone call from the Dorchester Department of Social Services regarding a possible child abuse case. The Department of Social Services was notified by personnel from Children’s Hospital where the infant died.
State Police investigators from the Easton Criminal Investigation Section and the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit immediately initiated a thorough investigation. Police conducted scores of interviews and learned that Dobson cared for other children besides Ulrich. Information received revealed Dobson was Ulrich’s day care provider for two days.
The results from the extensive investigation and medical evidence revealed that Ulrich’s injuries were sustained during the days he was in Dobson’s custody. An autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Washington, D.C. ruled the infant’s death a homicide. The cause of death was inflicted head trauma which medical evidence reveals as an injury consistently found with Shaken Baby Syndrome.
State police investigators have contacted other parents and guardians whose children were under Dobson’s care. Anyone with information is urged to contact state police investigators at the Easton Barracks at (410) 822-3101.
27 comments:
This is a great example of why I live the frugal life! I would much rather live on a tight budget than receive a phone stating my child was harmed or dead at the hands of a babysitter. People need to stop trusting others with the lives of their children.
I think the full story hasn't been told yet and we shouldn't pass judgement. This woman loved her children and has been successfully providing childcare for years w/out incident. There is more to this story, than what you read here. I hope the MD State Police do a thorough investigation and actually look at all avenues, instead of hitting the most vulnerable target.
There is no possible way this is even slightly true. I have know Gail all my life, she babysat my kids!!!! She is a wonderful lady. I agree the parents went after a easy target! She would never do that, and two days!!! I hope the investigation is done fully and the rightfully ones end up in jail, and it's not gail!
5:37- Its obvious to me that the most vulnerable target was hit.... that poor defensless 9 month-old child. I think they should shake her to death!
48 days of investigation is not enough for you anon 5:37? Exactly how much more do you expect of the state police? Should they dump the hundreds of other cases so they can some how find evidence that points away from her involvement in the death of this baby. Although 48 days of police investigation, medical reports, and investigation by DSS has already produced enough evidence to bring not just child abuse charges but manslaughter charges against her along with additional charges.
Just out of curiosity how in the world do you close your eyes at night knowing you are justifying the actions of a person only based on what you see of that person without taking into account the investigation has been conducted and she obviously is to blame or else she would not be facing as many charges as she is. Comments like yours are what is wrong with the world. Just because someone appears to be a good person or is a friend of yours does not make them innocent. If someone commits a crime have the goobers to stand up and accept it, and if they are too weak to do that those around them should at the very least hold that person accountable for what he or she has done.
Damn they threw the book at her. $750k bail! Holy S!
Has anyone considered that maybe the injuries were inflicted on the baby the night before by a family member or another sitter? Also who watched the child prior to this & have they been interviewed? Much more investigating needs to be done in my opinion. It seems the daycare provider has many friends who can testify to her character. The outcome will be interesting.
I myself am a child care provider, and it scares me to death to know what goes on when my babies go home, its really ashame if this lady has been wrongly accused. How could someone know if it happened at home or at daycare? I do this because I love children and these children become part of my family.If she didnt love children I don't think she would be in the business and certainly not harm them.
OH MY GOODNESS...some of these comments...You guys INFURIATE me!!! Let me just say Gail was my babysitter when I was younger and my mom had to pull me out of there because of a couple of some incidences...As a matter of fact, I just called the number at the bottom of the article so if I can be of any help whatsover in bringing justice to this monster by giving my personal experience with her I will!!! Not all murderers act like obvious murderers... Just because you THINK you know someone doesn't mean they're not capable of doing something unthinkable. I assure you, I will be a part of this if they allow me :-) That poor child deserves more than you crazy people defending her actions. Also...do a google search on Trevor Urlich or watch videos posted by kulrich79 on youtube...that baby was absolutely precious...
Investigators don't just slap charges on people without having proper evidence. People get off on heinous crimes all the time because there's not enough evidence. You don't know that the prior caregiver wasn't interviewed and you also must have missed the statement given by state police that they have their evidence showing the trauma had taken place while in Gail's custody...Perhaps Gail Dobson is not who you thought she was. I know from personal experience she's no Saint. She is my true inspiration and has been since my first son was born 8 yrs ago to make sure I am the one taking care of my own children. I would not have children if I weren't able to do that...thats how much distrust she instilled in me...she'll have her day.
Don't base a few incidents caused by providers (not babysitters) as a whole. All licensed childcare providers are also small business women/men and have to go through extensive training, criminal background checks, medical exams, CPR/FA and pass thorough home inspections, etc., before children can even be allow into our home more than 20 hours a month to care for them! We can be trusted more so than all the unlicensed providers that are in abundance out there and not being investigated and closed down because the state chooses to ignore the vast amount of complaints of those running them - there are so many of them, it's impossible for the state to oversee investigating.
It's easier to pass judgment on one that is arrested on charges such as this one was when we only hear what the media chooses to put in print. The case hasn't been tried yet. Please don't pass judment on those of us who are licensed to care for children in our home because we feel children get more one on one attention than most probably get in public daycare facilities! My heart goes out to both the provider and the child's family. It's a tragedy no words can ever be explained or expressed.
Anon 3:31 I don't think any comment was directed at all home based daycare providers, but more so to justify the reasonings behind becoming a stay at home parent. You could be a great person that loves every child that walks through your door. However, for every good person there is a bad and many parents care enough about their children to sacrifice certain things in order to assure their children's safety. For me personally there is nothing more important in this world than protecting and being a part of my children's lives. Many people that get into home daycare do so in order to be at home with their own children while still making money. Personally I think that is the wrong motive behind running a daycare, it isn't because of a true desire to help children it is selfish wants for their own personal gain.
Once upon a time I did have to place my children in a home based daycare and she was a wonderful woman. However she moved away and I allowed my in laws to watch my son for a week up until the day I arrived early unexpectedly and seen a welt on his face in the shape of a hand print. From that day on I never considered any type of daycare. There are too many chances of my children become the victim at the hands of anyone but me. Maybe I am over protective but I know each and every day my children are loved, cared for, and educated because they deserve nothing less.
It has been very quiet, I am praying this woman is in jail and the girls there are taking care of her as they do not like child killers. Lets hope she does not receive the death penalty so she has to suffer the rest of her life...
I dont care if you knew gail or if she raised your children because you chose to work and make money for extras in your life than to take care of your own kids...
If you leave your child with a babysitter you have then decided you dont care enough about your kids ... Take care of your own kids and this shit wouldnt happen .
Just to add a few facts to those that have been made by people unknowing....She was a licensed MD Provider and well known among the provider community. A license does not mean they are incapable of committing a crime. This has been investigated thoroughly not by just 1, but 2 autopsys. Don't you think the investigators thought the same thing...maybe the child came to daycare with injury or it happened the day prior, etc?? That is why autopsys can pinpoint a time of injury, to eliminate error!! That helpless infant was harmed by that woman and I'm glad the parents of other children in my area are coming forward as well!! Mothers, TRUST your instincts! If something doesn't seem ok it probably isn't. Don't assume a license makes someone beyond committing a crime.
I was suspicious myself of the parents at first. I know the mother was on Facebook just hours after the incident telling her friends "you know how much I loved him don't you" but then again you just don't know how you would act given the circumstances. That is just strange to me. I still have a pit in my stomach that the outcome of the trial just isn't right. Lord only knows, God will be the judge.
I do not know either of these people but my heart breaks for the young child who lost his life.The police investigated and found the daycare provider guilty!!The jury found her guilty!! Leave the poor parents alone they are hurting enough! During the investigation an autopsy was proformed which has time lines on when things occur,when blood is in the brain etc The police did not just pick her name out of a hat.One of these other blogs has someone who went there saying she was not a nice person.Some of the kids that go there now may feel the same but are afraid to say anything!I believe from the stories I read Gail is guilty!!Her stories dont ad up,she said baby was aspirating yet results show his lungs were clear! Tears in my eyes to think anyone can harm a child let alone a helpless baby!!
As i sit here and read the story of the ulrich family i am overwhelmed with sadness for that helpless little baby. Something is very wrong with the ones of you who appear to blame the mother for putting her child in day care. As all mothers know, it is very hard to trust someone else to take care of your baby. But good mothers know what they need to do in order to provide a good life for their kids. We have to work. we want to take our kids on vacation and to give them what they need and want without relying on the assistance of others to provide for our kids. Some of the mothers on here say they sacrifice certain things to be at home with their children, would you sacrifice food for your children, clothes, a place for them to live etc...to stay at home? their will come a time when your child has to go to school, then what will you do? Stop being lazy and make a better life for your children. Some women on here may be married and the husban pays all the bills. what would you do if your husband left you or died? You would have to get off your lazy but and provide for your children or receive outside help and that would not be enough to help your children.
The day care provider Gail has been convicted. There must have been enough evidence for that to happen. How dare you harm an innocent child who did nothing to you. how dare you betray the trust of his mother and kill him. you shook that baby so hard that you killed him. you should know how difficult it was for his mother to trust you to take care of her little boy. a baby at 9 months old is barely saying a few words and barely walking. some babies at 9 months old are not even walking. so what did this little baby do to you that would cause you shake him so badly, to inflict such pain on his family, to murder him!!!!! You are the murderer of a baby!
Before you bloggers write comments professing her innocence of this baby killer, just think, what if this was your child who you left with her. and when you left your child was in perfectly good health. then a few hours later you get a phone call and rush to the house to see your child lifeless, dying at the hands of another. what would you do? how would you react? wouldnt you want justice?
I dont know either of these people, but you can tell things dont add up on either side, the mother being on FB hours later, all the pics posted? I would be lucky if I could make it to the mailbox in this case if it were my child dead. Then back to school rather quickly?, being very defensive over (the husband)baby sitting for him on Sunday before he was sick on Monday. The sitter also did things on the weird side, calling 911 after the school? Talking on the stand about leaky messy diapers, and the smell, both sides point to odd behavior. I lean toward the sitter a bit now, being innocent, also 10/28 now the judge is thinking the same thing, sentencing has now been delayed due to (not enough evidence), no longer going to be 10/29/10 1:30, something else has proved her innocence???. We will wait and see, I look to another member of the U. family to be hit with charges......soon. Wait and c
Before you spew lies about why sentencing was post-poned, why don't you get on MD Judiciary and see the truth. She now has a new attorney and they requested the post-ponement, not the judge. "Not enough evidence" for sentencing, does not even make sense.
Really people how can you condone this monster who killed a child? This monster shook/hit Trevor until was dead! The police proved it and a jury backed it up! Her expert witness was ready to testify that she did it but she wouldn't allow him to testify. Stop and think this thru Trevor's parents kept him alive and healthy for 9 months, Dobson murdered him in 2 days! And yes I agree she shouldn't be in jail she should be released to me so I can shake/beat her to death.
Medical evidence by 3 experts does not lie. GUILTY PEOPLE LIE. Ms. Dobson lied repeatedly to MD State Police investigators and Medical personnel. She lied to her friend and Maryland Licensing Specialist about how many children she had in her care. This woman testified that "Yes, Ms. Dobson lied". During trial, Ms. Dobson allowed her Defense attorney to suggest that her husband was the killer during the 2 minutes he walked through the house. She has told so many lies to everyone, she cannot even keep her own story straight. She claimed during her 911 call that she could not remember how to or know how to do CPR - her defenders will say "she was upset" Nope, listen to the 911 call, she is calmly chit chatting with the 911 dispatcher. Immediately following Trevor's death, Ms. Dobson started a "smear campaign" of lies about Trevor, his health, and the Ulrich family.
Lies are all Ms. Dobson has ever had and has ever told. She was asked to take a polygraph and refused. As I said: Guilty People Lie. She killed Trevor and she needs to pay for what she took away from his family, friends, and society.
How dare u ppl judge !!! u werent in that court room u didnt hear every piece of evidence. u know what gail dobson had as her defense? a few charector witnesses that was it . she sat there with no emotion at all,while trevors family still grieves. i dont care if u knew her for 50 years the point is she killed him and no one can change it . no one can bring him back . if u were only at the trial u would understand how much evidence points to her . wonder how i know this?? trevor was my nephew. do u know how it feels to get a phone call like that ?? do u know how it feels to watch ur brother n sister go threw it not to mention everyone else in the family . HE WAS 9 MONTHS OLD a innocent child a miracle baby . for u ppl who want to post ur opinion thats fine cuz they r like assholes everyone has them . but take a look at the evidence , look at how well cared for trevor was . how much we all loved him. its not right parents have to bury their children its suppose to b the other way around . someone will pay for it trevor and us will have justice and if not in court , she stills has to face god
I would like to know how long the shaken baby syndrome tajes before it kills, obviously at least a day. And who dropped off the kid last.
I'm just saying that it seems that this lady has a tight reputation and she did call 911. Maybe just maybe the li'l one was shaken at home before the drop off. In the car? At the car? I mean we are talking about a time line here and just assuming that parents wouldn't shake their own kid. Really!
Wow...I'm amazed at the ignorance I have read here today. Shaken Baby Syndrome is a proven thing. Not a figment of anyone's imagination, not a question mark...proven, true, killing or permanently scarring young children every day. Young children who either die, or go on to be older children, then adults, who may be dependent on others for basic care for the rest of their lives. Here's the thing about Shaken Baby Syndrome...it doesn't take a "certain amount of time to kill a child"...in fact, there are many kids it does not kill. But its effects do start to set in almost immediately. If Trevor had been shaken at home the night before, he would not have been breathing when he arrived at daycare. It's not like a bad cold that might turn into bronchitis overnight...it's effects come on quickly, and in this case, were incompatible with life. Everyone here who spends enough time on the internet to find this story...take a few moments and educate yourself.
http://www.sbsprevention.com/
http://www.dontshake.org/
These people had their lives ruined at the hands of this woman. I wish she had gotten the full sentence allowed by law. I am a healthcare provider who takes care of the children who survive this type of abuse every day...so please get off of your high horses and realize for a minute that these parents lost everything there is to lose.
Thank you to the ppl who understand and agree with trevors family. we all miss trevor a innocent baby that did nothing wrong. to the ones who think gail dobson is so great look where she is now . in prison where she belongs i hope and pray she dont make it out !!!
With genuine heartfelt feelings for the grief of Trevor's parents, I was looking for something else besides just the SBS diagnosis to convict Gail. One poster here said that she had experienced Gail's babysitting as a child, and from her comments, I am more disposed to believe the conviction. I believe there are little hints here and there around people who can be abusers. SBS in and of itself alone, however, is not sufficient for conviction, because, contrary to another poster here, it is NOT proven, and symptoms do NOT necessarily manifest immediately. Furthermore, there seems to be correlation with vaccines or other circumstances which mimic shaken baby syndrome symptoms but which are NOT SBS. Currently, I am doing research to help friends of mine who are accused of shaking their baby, but I am certain that they did not do it. I am learning through my research that people can be convicted of SBS and sent to jail PURELY on the word of the doctor, even when they are innocent. There is much misunderstanding regarding SBS in the medical community, and legally, it is a nightmare. I would not dare to take care of a baby now, seeing how terribly easy it is to be charged with doing harm to a baby, even when you are completely innocent! And another poster says that police investigate thoroughly. From my recent experience, I can say, "NOT TRUE!" People are fallible, and even doctors and police doing their best can make mistakes.
The whole story has not been heard in public. I was locked up with miss Gail and let me tell you... SHE DID NOT KILL THAT BABY.. She had just started to watch him, the baby had been to the doctors a few days before he had passed because he was fussy and whatever else... not trying to sound mean towards the baby because by all means im not but that mother and father need to really tell the truth one of them knows what happen to that baby and dont you think its funny how Miss Gail only had just started to watch him and something happened they knew what they was doing when they found a child care provider and I think the courts and police officers need to make sure justice is done to fix this lady of being wrongfully convicted. There's not a day that goes by that she does think of that baby or hurts from losing that baby in her care, the truth will come out and when it does I hope they get more than 20 years.. I love you Miss Gail, i support you all the way and i have no problem posting my name on this. Dana Miller..
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