Nurse charged in violent assault of infant as parents file civil suit
NEWTOWN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- A registered nurse is facing criminal charges in two counties after parents say home surveillance video captured her allegedly violently assaulting their children.
According to the lawyer for the victim's family in Delaware County, Sam Dordick of Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Bendesky, the child's parents checked a Ring camera in their daughter's bedroom last May after hearing medical alerts.
Their 1-year-old daughter was born with spina bifida and other medical challenges.
Dordick said what they saw on the video was horrifying.
"They saw her - no better way to put it - choke slamming their daughter two times before they were able to rush into her room to confront Miss Desser," Dordick said.
The nurse, identified as 58-year-old Cindy Desser, was employed by Team Select Home Care at the time and assigned to provide overnight care for the child.
Dordick said the child's vital signs consistently spiked during Desser's shifts.
"We know that her vital signs, every time Desser was in the home, would spike. Her heart rate would go up, her respiratory rate would go up, and so even though she was nonverbal, through her vital signs, she was screaming out for help," he said.
Desser was charged in September in Delaware County with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children. On Monday, the child's parents filed a civil lawsuit against Desser and her employer.
Dordick said Desser violated her bail after her arrest.
"Got out on bail and immediately violated the terms of her bail by somehow obtaining employment with a different home health care company," he said.
RELATED: Bucks County nurse facing child abuse charges after allegedly harming child with medical condition
In October, surveillance video in Bensalem allegedly captured Desser assaulting another child in her care. She is now facing additional child abuse charges in Bucks County.
"We believe strongly this is just the latest in a pattern and practice of child abuse that is inflicted by Desser," Dordick said.
Desser is currently being held in Bucks County on $2 million bail. The criminal case against her in Delaware County remains ongoing.
Team Select Home Care did not respond to a request for comment.
