No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveTica Sentenced for Shaking U.S. Baby

Tica Sentenced for Shaking U.S. Baby

Ligia María Naranjo, 29, was sentenced Sunday to 10 years in jail for mistreating a five-month-old baby who was in her care when the Costa Rican woman worked as a nanny in Boulder, Colorado.

In exchange for a reduced six- to 10-year sentence, Naranjo pled guilty July 28 to two counts of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, according to an online story by the Daily Times-Call, a northern Colorado newspaper.

Boulder police arrested Naranjo March 8, after her employers, Christina and Sean McLaughlin, took their baby, Von, to a local hospital.

Doctors determined Von had suffered bleeding on the brain on two occasions, and a broken collarbone, both likely results of shaken-baby syndrome, the Daily Times-Call reported.Von is now developing normally.

Naranjo had been taking care of Von and the couple’s other young son since January. Sean McLaughlin told investigators Naranjo said she shook the baby to make sure he was OK, the Daily Times-Call reported. Naranjo apologized in court Sept. 8, saying she never meant to hurt the baby.

Naranjo’s parents, who live in Moravia, northeast of San José, visited Boulder to be with her during her court dates, the daily La Nación reported. The former Sunday school teacher and aspiring art student’s Web profile, profile.xanga.com/liblue, apparently created before the March 8 incident, listed among her interests God, Starbucks, Colorado, photography and “Delaney and Von of course!! My two lil’ angels… so cuute!”

 

Trending Now

Cincinnati Open 2026 Guide: Dates, Players and What to Know

The Cincinnati Open 2026 runs August 8-23 in Mason, Ohio. See key dates, leading players, Latin American names and what fans should know

Costa Rica Approves New Rules for Nighttime Ambulance Flights

Costa Rica has approved a national protocol governing nighttime air ambulance flights, closing out roughly ten months of uncertainty that began when Civil Aviation...

Tropical Wave 29 Crosses Costa Rica as the Caribbean Alert Holds

The yellow alert that went up over the weekend is still in place, and a second tropical wave in three days crosses today. If...

Gunmen Storm Costa Rica Hospital and Kill Patient in Nicoya

Two masked gunmen forced their way into a public hospital in Guanacaste early Saturday and shot a patient to death as he lay on...

Starbucks Opens 33rd Costa Rica Store as Dunkin Expands

Starbucks has opened its 33rd store in Costa Rica while Dunkin' adds locations in Zapote and Sabana Este, intensifying competition in the country's coffee and doughnut market.

Forbes Highlights Costa Rica Oxcart Painting Experience

A hands-on workshop that allows visitors to create their own version of Costa Rica’s traditional painted oxcart designs has earned international attention as travelers...

Cincinnati Open Opens This Weekend With Practices, Fan Events and New Attractions

The Cincinnati Open begins welcoming fans August 8 with open player practices, autograph sessions, Red Bull BassLine and a new 5K before competitive tennis begins.

Costa Rica’s Pacific Faces Drought as Caribbean Rainfall Soars

Costa Rica ended July with two sharply different weather realities: unusually dry conditions across much of the Pacific and Central Valley, and exceptionally heavy...

Carlos Alcaraz Withdraws From Cincinnati Open With Wrist Injury

Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the 2026 Cincinnati Open as he continues to recover from the wrist injury that has kept him away from...
Avatar
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel