Mother charged in shaken baby case

Linda Shepard; C & G Staff Writer

Rochester Post

The adoptive mother of a 1-year-old girl has been charged with first-degree child abuse, state police officials.

According to Police Lt. Ray White of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Rochester Hills substation, young Kaitlyn Brosch suffers severe brain damage, is blind, is almost totally paralyzed and suffers from seizures.

Police believe Kaitlyn suffers from the effects of “shaken baby” syndrome, and her adoptive mother, Tracey Brosch, 43 and a Rochester Hills resident, has been charged with first-degree child abuse, a felony punishable by up to 15 years.

Brosch was arrested Nov. 15, arraigned Nov. 18 and appeared before Judge Nancy Carniak at the 52-4 District Court in Rochester Hills Nov. 21 for a pre-exam conference.

Police believe Kaitlyn Brosch suffered severe brain damage at her home the morning of Oct. 28. The girl was alone with her mother in the home when the incident occurred, White said.

Brosch took the child to her local doctor and said the girl was having difficulty breathing and would not wake up, White said. The doctor began life-saving procedures and called for emergency medical transport. Kaitlyn was transported to Crittenton Hospital, then to William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, where she received surgery to relieve pressure on her brain.

Brosch and her husband adopted Kaitlyn in June of 2005 through the

adoption agency, White said, which has offices in Austin, Texas. The Broschs traveled to China to adopt Kaitlyn, and they have no other children.

On Nov. 9, a hearing was held in Oakland County Probate Court, terminating parental rights for Brosch and her husband, pending a full hearing. Neither set of grandparents is willing or able to care for Kaitlyn, and she will be placed with a state foster home upon leaving the hospital, White said.

Carniak set bond for Brosch at $75,000. Brosch is scheduled to appear again at the 52-4 District court Dec. 14.

You can reach Linda Shepard at lshepard@candgnews.com