Day Care Aide Accused of Killing Child "Loved Kids"

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 20, 2009 4:33PM

It's almost a cliche: a person is accused of a heinous crime and people come out of the woodwork to tell media that, "that doesn't sound like the person we know. And it's holding true today. Friends and neighbors of Melissa Calusinski, the 22-year-old day care center aide accused of first degree murder in the death of 16-month-old Benjamin Kingan, said that Calusinski was a hard working young woman who spoke of how she loved children.

One neighbor even spoke of how Calusinski loved her pet chihuahua so much that when she fell ill Calusinski "held (the dog) in her arms until she died." Calusinski is accused of violently throwing Kinjan to the floor when attempts to quiet the child failed. Meanwhile, workers at Minee Subee Day Care Center in Lincolnshire are trying to quell parents concerns that their kids are at risk there. Minee Subee has a good reputation prior to Calusinski's arrest. Still, the Jewish Council for Youth Services Northwest Family Center in Buffalo Grove said Monday it had already signed up four former students.

Image via WBBM-AM.