FLORIDA — A Florida woman who worked as a home nurse for a couple with a premature infant has been sentenced to one year in jail after pleading guilty to child neglect, court records show.
Guilty Plea and Sentence
Kelly Perrigo, 62, entered her guilty plea on Monday, months after she was arrested for allegedly failing to properly care for a “micro-preemie” born at 24 weeks gestation. In addition to her jail sentence, Perrigo will lose her nursing licenses, preventing her from practicing in the future.
The Alleged Neglect
According to charging documents reviewed by Law&Crime, Perrigo was employed through Team Select, a service providing home nurses for patients of all ages, including pediatric and geriatric patients.
The baby’s parents became concerned after noticing alarming drops in their infant’s blood sugar levels despite Perrigo claiming he had finished all his bottles during her nighttime shifts. Surveillance footage revealed that Perrigo only fed the baby for two to five minutes, then poured out the remainder of the formula instead of using the feeding tube as instructed.
When questioned by police, Perrigo admitted to discarding the formula, explaining that the baby was “eating more during the day” and described her actions as “poor judgment.”
Evidence and Investigations
Text messages between Perrigo and the baby’s mother, included in the affidavit, showed repeated confrontations over missed or false feedings. Perrigo frequently apologized but cited “poor judgment” as her reason for failing to provide proper care.
The affidavit also noted that Perrigo told police she had no prior pediatric experience and had previously been fired from another pediatric nursing position through Team Select. She claimed the firing was related to being caught “smoking in the bathroom,” though the company did not provide a reason.
Impact on the Baby
The parents stated that due to Perrigo’s neglect, the infant experienced slow weight gain, low energy, and liver failure. While the baby survived, he has already undergone 12 surgeries and is expected to face long-term health issues. The mother attended Monday’s sentencing hearing to emphasize the severity of her child’s medical struggles caused by Perrigo’s actions.
Officials’ Statement
Authorities and prosecutors stressed that this case serves as a reminder of the critical responsibility home nurses have, especially when caring for medically fragile infants. Perrigo’s actions, officials said, endangered a vulnerable child and violated both legal and ethical standards.
What Do You Think?
Should stricter screening and oversight be required for home nurses caring for high-risk infants?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
