A woman who ran an unlicensed home nursery has been jailed after a devastating incident that led to the death of an 11-month-old baby boy in her care. Teresa Louise Biswanath, 46, from Oregon, was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide.
The tragedy unfolded on August 30, 2022, when the baby, who has not been named publicly, was placed in Biswanath’s care. Despite previously working at a reputable childcare centre and receiving thorough training, including how to safely put babies to sleep, she made a series of fatal errors, reported the Mirror.
According to prosecutors, Biswanath was looking after five children that day. During nap time, she tried to swaddle the baby, who could already roll and crawl, in a wrap meant only for newborns under three months. The swaddle was far too small and designed for infants who couldn’t yet move on their own. On top of that, she strapped the baby’s arms down and put a pacifier in his mouth that was attached to a stuffed animal measuring around six inches.
Initially, she tried to settle the baby in the same room as the other children, but later moved him to a separate bedroom upstairs. There, she placed him face-down on a bed, swaddled with his arms restrained and the pacifier still in. She left him alone in that room for over an hour, going in and out while tending to the other children.
When she returned, she found the child unresponsive and turning blue. Her husband rang emergency services while she attempted CPR, but tragically, paramedics were unable to save him.
Following the conviction, a spokesperson for the Washington County District Attorney’s Office said Biswanath had received “extensive training” in safe infant sleep techniques during her previous employment at a recognised childcare facility. Despite that, she ran an unlicensed day nursery from her home, breaching safety guidelines and legal requirements.
On 9 May 2025, Judge Erik Buchér handed down the two-year prison sentence. In addition to her time behind bars, Biswanath will also be under strict supervision for three years once released. She has been permanently banned from operating any form of childcare business and is prohibited from having any contact with the baby’s family.
The District Attorney’s Office also extended its condolences to the grieving family, calling the incident a heartbreaking and preventable loss.
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