OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – An Oakland County woman was charged with child abuse after a toddler suffered brain damage while under her care.
Swapna Hari, 44, from Troy, was charged with first-degree child abuse on Feb. 24, 2026, after a 13-month-old child she was babysitting suffered serious brain damage.
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On Sept. 3, 2025, Hari was allegedly babysitting the child when she claimed the toddler fell backward while eating and began choking.
The child was taken to a hospital with severe head trauma and suffered serious brain damage. The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office said the child was injured while being cared for by Hari, and the injuries were not consistent with choking or a backward fall.
“In a single moment, this healthy and happy 13-month-old child suffered a life-changing injury, allegedly at the hands of this defendant,” said Prosecutor McDonald. “Our office sees too many cases of childhood brain injuries caused by abusers. These are physical injuries that often never heal completely. It’s heartbreaking and horrifying to learn a caregiver would harm a child instead of protecting them.”
If convicted, Hari faces up to life in prison.