© New Haven Police
The parents of a 19-month-old boy whose baby sitter was charged with manslaughter in his death have been arrested, New Haven police said Thursday.
Police the parents, Thenmozhi Rajendran, 24, and Sivakumar Mani, 33, were charged with risk of injury to a child and interfering with police. Police did not say why they were charged but said the baby sitter is the prime suspect.
The parents were not supposed to use the baby sitter because of a previous incident, according to an arrest affidavit.
The sitter, 27-year-old Kinjal Patel of New Haven, told police she became angry with the boy on Jan. 16 and forced him to the floor, causing him to strike his head.
Police said the mother initially told them at the hospital that she was home alone with her son and heard him breathing abnormally. Police said she later changed her statement and said he fell off a couch. She told police she lied because she was scared and is unfamiliar with the country.
Their attorney, Charles Tiernan, said the parents are devastated and will plead not guilty. He declined to discuss details of the case.
Comment: See also: Connecticut babysitter charged with manslaughter in toddler's death