Mother’s Deadly Decision: Nurse Jailed After Leaving 10-Week-Old Baby Alone to Die
A nurse has been sentenced to three years in prison after leaving her 10-week-old baby home alone, leading to his tragic death.
A nurse has been sentenced to three years in prison after leaving her 10-week-old baby at home alone while she went to work, resulting in the child’s death.
Ruth Auta, 28, left her son, Joshua Akerele, in her nurses’ accommodation at the Royal Bolton Hospital on the morning of December 20, 2022. She departed shortly after 06:30 GMT and did not return until more than eight hours later.
At 15:24, Auta called emergency services, stating that her son was not breathing. Despite resuscitation efforts, Joshua was pronounced dead at 16:40.
Auta, who had previously pleaded guilty to child cruelty, attempted to flee the country before her sentencing. She was arrested and subsequently sentenced to three years in prison by Bolton Crown Court.
Uncertain Cause of Death
The court was unable to determine a definitive cause of death for Joshua, noting that he had been a healthy baby. It was suggested he may have overheated due to the layers of clothing and bedding he was wrapped in, but other potential causes could not be excluded.
Auta, who has no fixed address, initially misled Greater Manchester Police by claiming she had picked Joshua up from a childminder after work and that she had fallen asleep beside him before finding him unresponsive. However, CCTV footage revealed Auta had left her flat without Joshua at 06:47 and did not return until 15:13, still alone.
Further investigation uncovered messages on Auta’s phone showing she had asked a childminder to lie to the police, stating she had cared for Joshua that day. The childminder, however, told the authorities she had not seen the baby in several days.
Auta was charged with cruelty to a child and pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on May 24. The case was postponed for sentencing until June 21, but Auta was arrested at Gatwick Airport on June 6 as she attempted to board a one-way flight to Nigeria.
Sara Davie of the Crown Prosecution Service commented, “While Ruth Auta went to work to care for others, she left her own child, who needed her care the most, home alone.”
Davie added that as a nurse, Auta should have been aware of the dangers of leaving a baby unattended and must now face the consequences of her “terrible decision.” She further stated that Auta showed no remorse throughout the case, attempted to mislead the police, and tried to evade justice.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those affected by Joshua’s death,” Davie concluded.
