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Grand Lake foster mom officially charged in death of 3-year-old

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Will Bublitz

Sky-Hi Daily News

A Grand Lake woman has been officially charged in the death of the 3-year-old foster child in her care.

In last week’s Grand County Court, Michele Baber was charged with the Class 2 felony “Child Abuse Causing Death” in the death of Daisai Derzon who died as the result of head injuries last month.

Baber, who was arrested and booked on the charge Jan. 28, has been held at the Grand County Jail in Hot Sulphur Springs.

On Monday, Feb. 4, Baber appeared before Judge Ben McClelland who set a preliminary hearing in her case for March 17. If enough evidence is found to warrant it, he will then bind the case over to the 14th Judicial District Court for further action.

The incident that resulted in Daisai Derzon’s death took place Wednesday, Jan. 9.

The Sheriff’s Office reported that at 12:57 p.m. that day, its dispatch center received a 911 call reporting an “unresponsive 3-year-old child” at a residence in the Grand Lake area.

Emergency units from Grand County EMS and Grand Lake Fire Department as well as Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Baber residence, which was Derzon’s foster home. The 3-year-old was taken by ambulance to the Granby Medical Center for treatment and later transported to Children’s Hospital in Aurora, where she died Saturday morning, Jan. 12.

In a press release Monday, Jan.15, announcing Derzon’s death, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office stated she had suffered “closed head injuries” at her foster home. An autopsy was performed, but the results have not been released.

Investigators from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office as well as District Attorney’s Office and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation were involved in the case.

An arrest warrant for Baber on the charge of felony child abuse was obtained by investigators from the 14th Judicial District on Saturday, Jan. 26. At 12:35 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, the arrest warrant was executed by Sgt. Leo Piechocki of the Grand County Sheriff’s Office who took Baber to the Grand County Jail where she has remained incarcerated.

2008 Feb 11