Adopted daughter shaken; mother arrested

ROCHESTER HILLS - Only months after she arrived from China as the adopted daughter of a Rochester Hills couple, little Kaitlyn Brosch lies in a hospital bed, partially paralyzed, deaf and blind after police and prosecutors say she was severely shaken by her mother.

Tracey Brosch, 43, was charged earlier this week with first-degree child abuse, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Her husband won't face charges because authorities say he was not home at the time of the alleged incident.

"This is a horrible crime," said Lt. Ray White of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. "This is a beautiful little girl."

According to authorities, Brosch took Kaitlyn, who is 14 months old, to a doctor Oct. 28. White said the baby girl - who was adopted in June - suffered injuries that led to blindness, paralysis and seizures.

"She can only move her toe and a finger," said Chief Deputy Oakland County Prosecutor Deborah Carley.

Brosch allegedly told the doctor that Kaitlyn was having trouble breathing and that she could not wake the baby.

The doctor began life-saving procedures on Kaitlyn and called 9-1-1. Kaitlyn was rushed to Crittenton Hospital and then Royal Oak's William Beaumont Hospital, where she remains. She has had surgery to relieve pressure on her brain. Brosch's attorney, Jon Posner, said Kaitlyn's injuries could be a result of many different things. He said his client is trying to remain strong but misses her daughter.

On Nov. 9, the parental rights of Brosch and her husband - who has not been charged with a crime so his name is not being released - were suspended after a Nov. 9 hearing.

"We, very lovingly but adamantly, deny these allegations," Posner said.

Neither Kaitlyn's maternal or paternal grandparents can care for the baby girl, so she will be placed in foster care after she is released from the hospital, said White.

The Brosches have no other children. They had traveled to China to pick up Kaitlyn.

On Friday, Brosch was freed after she posted a $75,000 bond. She will face a hearing on Monday before Rochester Hills district court Judge Nancy Tolwin Carniak.