Posted at: 02/05/2010 6:26 PM | KSAX.com
By: Emily Deem

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Infant Injured at Daycare Dies of Head Trauma, Bemidji Couple Charged

BEMIDJI, MINN. - A Bemidji baby who authorities said suffered from head trauma after being left in the care of two adults in December died Thursday from his injuries.

According to a complaint out of Beltrami County Court, Ayven Shepard suffered from blunt head trauma while at a daycare in December of 2009.

Ayven's mother, Kristin Shepard, hired 22-year-old Brenda Hertel and 32-year-old Timothy Lundberg to babysit her two children one being Ayven on October 30, 2009.

Hertel and Lundberg watched Kristin's children Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

On the morning of December 18, Kristin dropped off her then 7-month-old son Ayven who was in good condition when she left him at Hertel and Lundberg residence.

Later that day around 5:00 p.m., Hertel called Ayven's mother saying the baby was
not waking up and asked if she could call 911.

When Beltrami County Sheriff's Deputies arrived to the residence they found Ayven
had sustained massive head trauma to the left side of his head.

The infant was immediately air lifted to Minneapolis Children's Hospital where he remained with life-threatening head trauma.

On Ayven's CaringBridge website http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ayvenshepard, updates have been posted on his condition but on Wednesday February 3, Ayven took a turn for the worse.

"His heart rate has been jumping over 200 and oxygen level dropped and he got very pale," was posted on his CaringBridge website.  "They think he has a blood clot or bleeding in his head."

On Thursday Ayven did not survive his injuries.

Both Lundberg and Hertel have been charged in the Beltrami County Court.

Lundberg was charged with 1st degree assault causing great bodily harm and Hertel was charged with neglect of a child resulting in harm.

(Photo courtesy of CaringBridge)

Written for the web by: Emily Deem.

edeem@ksax.com