First degree felony assault charges were placed on 33 year old Mei Yen Lam of Burnsville after authorities say she inflicted serious injuries on a 9 month old boy she was taking care of.

Dakota County authorities say that the child survived but has severe and permanent brain damage as a result.

Authorities were called to the residence on Feb. 5th after they received a call about an unconscious infant, according to the information release.  The boy was transported to Fairview Ridges Hospital by ambulance, and then to the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital. Doctors there determined the boy suffered from injuries to his brain and spinal cord. It was reportedly determined the 9-month-old had bleeding on both sides of his brain and had two fractured vertebrae, and he had to undergo emergency brain surgery.

Lam told police no one else had been alone with the boy, and that she explained she had been trying to feed him, but he appeared to choke on his food, spit up, became limp and stopped breathing.  Lam allegedly admitted she threw the boy on the bed "really hard" on multiple days preceding the 911 call – a call she made herself according to the release

According to one of the doctors they reportedly advised an investigator the injuries were consistent with being thrown, but with much more force than Lam allegedly described.A child abuse pediatrician said the injuries were non-accidental.

Mei Yen Lam Dakota County Photo
Mei Yen Lam
Dakota County Photo
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