STATEN ISLAND — The babysitter accused of torturing a 17-month-old toddler for 48 hours before the child died was indicted on murder charges, District Attorney Michael McMahon announced.
Gloria Fields, 31, was hit with a 12-count indictment on Tuesday for allegedly torturing Anthony Delgado for three days, leading to his death on Feb. 21, McMahon said.
"The grand jury has charged the defendant with murder in the first degree, having found reasonable cause to conclude that the defendant caused the death of her 17- month-old victim in an especially cruel and wanton manner," McMahon said in a statement.
"In so charging, the grand jury recognized, as the statute requires, that the defendant had tortured the child prior to his death."
Fields was indicted on charges of murder, aggravated murder, manslaughter, assault, aggravated sexual abuse, reckless assault of a child, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child, McMahon said.
"We intend to fully investigate the matter and make sure that my client is completely protected under the Constitution," Fields lawyer, Mario Gallucci, said.
Anthony and his mother, Marta Delgado, lived in the same Steuben Street building as Fields. The toddler had been staying with his grandmother on and off while his mother moved apartments and she dropped him off with Fields on Feb. 19, officials said.
Fields, who had watched Anthony six times before, began to abuse the tot almost immediately, officials said.
In the three days, Fields shook the boy, slammed him into the ground while he was strapped inside a stroller, hit him in the head several times and sexually abused him, McMahon said.
Fields abused Anthony inside her apartment and inside the Buffalo Exchange used clothing store at 332 E. 11th St., McMahon said.
The torture caused Anthony to have injuries all over his body, including multiple skull fractures, a fractured clavicle, intestinal perforations, hemorrhaging and internal bleeding, prosecutors said.
Fields also took heroin several times and smoked pot during the torture, the DAs office said.
On Feb. 21, Fields found Anthony unconscious and FDNY members tried to perform CPR to save the boy's life, police said.
He was pronounced dead at Staten Island University Hospital North.
Fields had been arrested nine times before on charges including prostitution and grand larceny, police said.
