A Michigan neonatal intensive care unit nurse has been charged with child abuse after a baby girl in his care sustained multiple broken bones and significant bruising. Kieran Ansley, 43, was also reportedly fired from Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids following the allegations of abuse that occurred during an overnight shift in April.
According to MLive.com, the investigation began after the infant’s mother arrived at the hospital on the morning of April 3 and noticed injuries on her daughter. The baby, who was born at 23 weeks, had been in the NICU since her birth in November 2025. Grandfather Robert Steavens told WOOD, “She was born at 23 weeks: 1 pound, 1 ounce. And she made it through her due date, ready to go home. And then two days before she was ready to go home, this happened.”
Per WOOD, court records show that as the mother arrived at the hospital around 6:30 AM, Ansley, the nurse, “got up from his seat and ‘jogged’ to cut them off before getting to the room, telling them that the infant had ‘slept through the night.’” The mother claimed she noticed that the baby’s tongue was “blue and almost black.” Court records allege that Ansley reacted by advising, “advised he had seen this in the past and it was not a big deal.”
The mother then noticed more wounds
MLive reported that as she removed the infant from her swaddle, she also observed several bruises that were not present when she left the previous evening. She alerted the primary care nurse, and hospital staff immediately ran tests to identify the source of the bruising.
A doctor eventually confirmed that the baby suffered fractures in both legs, including injuries near the knee, the shin bones near the ankles, and a smaller bone in the lower leg. Additionally, bruising was reportedly documented across the infant’s hands, fingers, forearms, left upper arm, abdomen, right buttock, and tongue. Additional testing was also done for underlying diseases, disorders, or conditions that could explain the bruises.
Per PEOPLE, the court documents stated, “The totality of the findings resulted in a diagnosis of pediatric physical abuse.” In a different case, a Florida day care worker was charged with abuse after a baby in her care had fractures in his legs among other wounds.
According to PEOPLE, Corewell Health, which runs the hospital, provided the police with a log of everyone who entered the room between 8:11 PM on April 2 and 6:54 AM on April 3. Out of 32 total entries, Ansley was logged in 27 times. The remaining five entries were made by other nurses who were in the room for only four minutes in total.
MLive noted that court documents show that other staff members interviewed by investigators allegedly reported that Ansley had exhibited concerning behavior throughout the night. Colleagues claimed he was being “heated,” “overwhelmed,” and “in over his head.”
One nurse reportedly alleged he seemed flustered and frustrated with his assignment, while another purportedly witnessed him being “super aggressive” while repositioning a baby, noting that he was “a breath away” from telling Ansley to “chill out.” In a different case, an Oklahoma daycare worker is facing similar charges after allegedly slamming a baby on the changing table while changing their diapers.
PEOPLE reported that a Corewell spokesperson stated, “Our hearts go out to the patient and the patient’s family. The care and safety of our patients is our top priority, and we have zero tolerance for abuse.” The hospital also confirmed that they have been fully cooperating with the police investigation.
Ansley is now facing two counts of second-degree child abuse, which are 10-year felonies, along with two counts of fourth-degree child abuse, according to WOOD. During a court appearance, his defense attorney, Damian Nunzio, reportedly told the media, “We intend on running a thorough investigation to get all the information in this case. My client has had many years working with ICU patients and he’s a very good person. And we are confident that our investigation will let the truth come to light.”
Ansley is reportedly free on bond, although he is required to wear an electronic tether. Another court hearing is scheduled for November. Meanwhile, the victim’s family is focused on recovery.
Robert Steavens told WOOD that the baby, now 10 months old, is back home in Caledonia and doing well. “Absolutely amazing, right?” he said. “We’ve been blessed and we’ve watched the baby grow. We’re trusting in God and healing as a family and trusting the process will move forward.”
Published: Sep 28, 2026 06:38 am