A judge on Tuesday sentenced a North Dakota woman to about 19 years in prison in connection with the death of an infant and the injury of another boy who authorities linked to her unlicensed childcare center.
Patricia Wick, of Jamestown, was charged last year. She pleaded guilty in January to murder, child abuse and operating an unlicensed daycare center in Carrington.
On the murder charge, District Judge James Hovey sentenced Wick to 40 years in prison, with 20 years suspended and credit for more than one year in prison. She must register as a child offender and serve 10 years of supervised probation. The judge also imposed reduced, concurrent sentences for the other charges. Wick must also pay $810 in court costs on the child abuse charge.
Wick Public Defender Samuel Gereszek and Foster County State’s Attorney Kara Brinster did not immediately return phone messages left Wednesday.
Prosecutors alleged Wick caused head and neck injuries to the 5-month-old boy, who died on Sept. 28, 2022, according to Carrington Police Chief Christopher Bittmann’s affidavit. The autopsy revealed that the child died of “complications of head and neck trauma,” with his death ruled a homicide, according to the affidavit.
Wick told authorities she “may have put the baby to sleep too hard,” was not gentle with him and was frustrated with him that day, according to the affidavit.
Authorities also allege in court documents that the other child broke his arm while in Wick’s care after falling from a swing set in her backyard, and that she did not immediately report the injury to his parents.
