A tragic incident in Piqua, Ohio, has left a community shaken after a 15-month-old girl, Vivian Gardner, died from injuries reportedly inflicted by a caretaker. The man, Michael Mayor, 34, allegedly slammed the toddler on the floor after she wouldn’t stop crying, causing a fractured skull and other severe injuries.
The incident occurred on December 5, while Mayor was left alone with Gardner and other children by a babysitter who had to take some kids to school, according to police records obtained by WHIO. Around 3:00 p.m., police and EMS were called to the babysitter’s location after reports of a toddler who was breathing but unresponsive.
The babysitter told authorities she became concerned when Gardner, whom she had been checking on throughout the day, remained unresponsive and pale with visible bruises on her head. Police said the injuries were unexplained at the time.
Mayor, the last person with the child, was arrested and later admitted to injuring her. According to a police report viewed by WHIO, Mayor confessed, saying he became frustrated when Gardner wouldn’t stop crying during nap time. He “shook” her and then began to “slam” her on the bedroom floor multiple times until she stopped crying. Mayor reportedly acknowledged that this was done on a hard surface, not blankets, and said he believed she had fallen asleep afterward.
Gardner was flown to Dayton Children’s Hospital, where doctors discovered a skull fracture and a subdural hematoma — a severe collection of blood between the covering of the brain and its surface. They described her injuries as “complex” and resulting from “massive impact.”
Despite medical efforts, Gardner succumbed to her injuries two weeks later, on December 19, the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office confirmed to WHIO.
Before the child’s death, Mayor was charged with felonious assault and endangering children. As of now, additional charges have not been filed. Mayor is being held at Miami County Jail on a $1 million bond, awaiting his next court date.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office and Piqua Police Department have not commented further on the case, and it remains unclear if Mayor has legal representation to address the charges. The community mourns the devastating loss of young Vivian, whose life was tragically cut short.