Fort Campbell baby sitter pleads guilty in baby's death

A Fort Campbell woman pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to first-degree felony manslaughter in the 2013 death of 2-month-old Thomas Castellon II, who  was injured while she was baby-sitting him.

As part of her plea agreement, Sheilla E. Linares, 22, admitted she was baby-sitting the boy at her Fort Campbell home, along with her two young children and Thomas' 3-year-old sister on Dec. 3, 2013. She said Thomas became fussy while she was trying to complete her homework, do laundry and tend to the other children.

She admitted to authorities that she intentionally caused serious injury to Thomas, but quickly realized it was wrong and put him in a swing, according to a news release from the United States District Court in Louisville.

When he became unresponsive, she called Thomas' mother and then 911.

Fort Campbell babysitter charged with murder of infant

An ambulance took the boy to the emergency room at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort Campbell. His condition deteriorated and he was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

While he being treated at Vanderbilt, medical personnel noticed bruising that appeared on both of his shoulders as well as his left upper arm, according to the plea agreement form. He was found to have multiple injuries, caused by Linares' abuse, according to her plea agreement. An autopsy listed his cause of death as blunt force injuries to his head and neck.

On Dec. 7, 2013, Thomas died.

Linares was originally charged with federal first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. The case was handled by federal authorities because it happened on post.

As part of her agreement, she will spend 18 years in prison followed by a three-year period of supervised release. She also faces a maximum fine of $250,000.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to previous reports in The Leaf-Chronicle, the boy's mother said he had brain hemorrhaging and swelling from shaken baby syndrome, and Linares admitted to Clarksville Police that she shook the child at her home.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo E. Lawless is prosecuting the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the Clarksville Tennessee Police Department, conducted the investigation.

Reach reporter Stephanie Ingersoll at 931-245-0267 and on Twitter@StephLeaf.