Michigan NICU Nurse Charged After Mother Finds Bruises on Baby Two Days Before Planned Discharge, Family Says

A former Michigan NICU nurse, Kieran L. Ansley, was charged in early September 2026 after a mother found bruises on her infant daughter at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids on 3 April. The family says the baby was two days from going home.

The girl was born at 23 weeks in November 2025 and had spent months in hospital. At birth, she weighed 1lb 1oz. Court records say tests revealed multiple fractures as well as bruising. Ansley, 43, faces four child abuse counts. His lawyer says he has cooperated with investigators.

Michigan NICU Nurse's Shift

The mother left the unit on the evening of 2 April and returned at about 6.30am the next day. According to court records, Ansley got up and hurried towards her as she approached the room, saying the child had slept through the night.

He told her the dark discolouration on the baby's tongue was not a serious concern, the records say. But the mother saw bruises she said had not been present the previous evening. Staff were alerted and an investigation began. A full skeletal survey found broken leg bones among multiple fractures.

Bruising was recorded on the child's hands, arms, thigh, buttocks, abdomen and tongue. Court documents say the findings led to a diagnosis of paediatric physical abuse. The diagnosis does not itself establish who caused the injuries.

Hospital workers interviewed about previous shifts reported no signs of trauma, according to the records. One described Ansley as flustered by his assignment, while others recalled him appearing overwhelmed. An overnight log listed 32 entries into the baby's room, 27 by Ansley and five by other nurses. The log records visits, not what happened during them.

Michigan NICU Nurse Faces Charges

Prosecutors charged Ansley with two counts of second-degree child abuse, each a felony carrying a maximum of 10 years in prison, and two misdemeanour counts of fourth-degree child abuse.

At a hearing earlier this week, Grand Rapids District Court Judge Kellen Dotson called them 'four serious charges'. Ansley is free on bond but must wear an electronic tether.

His lawyer, Damian Nunzio, said Ansley had cooperated with investigators. Nunzio added, 'We intend on running a thorough investigation to get all the information in this case.' The charges have not been proved in court.

Corewell Health said it acted immediately upon receiving the allegation, that Ansley no longer worked for the organisation and that it was cooperating with police. Its statement read, 'Our hearts go out to the patient and the patient's family.' The hospital declined an interview or answers to questions.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said his office handled 158 child abuse cases in 2025, more than twice the figure for 2021. By mid-September this year, 105 cases had been filed, including Ansley's. Those figures cover cases across the county, rather than injuries reported in neonatal care.

The baby, now 10 months old, is at home in Caledonia. Her grandfather, Robert Steavens, said she was 'doing wonderful'. He said she had reached her due date after being born four months prematurely and was preparing to leave hospital when the bruises were discovered. Ansley's next court hearing is set for early November.