GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A former nurse at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital faces four child abuse counts after a premature infant in his care was found with multiple broken bones and widespread bruising during what was supposed to be her final days in the hospital before going home.
Kieran L. Ansley, 43, of Niles, Michigan, was charged in early September 2026 with two counts of second-degree child abuse, each a 10-year felony, and two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree child abuse. The charges stem from injuries discovered on the morning of April 3 at the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit in Grand Rapids. The infant had been born four months premature in November 2025 and was two days away from her scheduled discharge when her mother arrived that morning and noticed the injuries. Ansley has since been fired from the hospital. He remains free on bond and is required to wear an electronic monitoring tether while the case moves through court.
The infant’s mother left the NICU on the evening of April 2 and returned at approximately 6:30 a.m. the following morning, according to court records. As she approached her daughter’s room, Ansley rose from his seat and moved quickly toward her, telling her that the child had slept through the night without incident. When the mother entered the room, she immediately noticed bruising that had not been present the night before. She also observed that the baby’s tongue had turned a dark blue and near-black color. Ansley told her he had seen that kind of discoloration before and that it was not a serious concern, court documents show. The mother reported her observations to hospital staff, and an investigation was launched. A full skeletal survey ordered as part of that investigation revealed multiple fractures, including broken leg bones, along with bruising on the infant’s hands, arms, thigh, buttocks, abdomen, and tongue. “The totality of the findings resulted in a diagnosis of pediatric physical abuse,” court documents state. Medical personnel who had cared for the child on earlier shifts told investigators they had seen no signs of injury during those prior visits.
Hospital staff interviewed during the investigation described Ansley’s behavior during his overnight shift in April as noticeably strained, according to court records. One staff member said Ansley “seemed flustered and a little bit frustrated with his assignment for the night.” Others described him as “scatterbrained,” “heated,” “overwhelmed,” and “in over his head” during that same shift. An overnight access log for the infant’s room recorded 32 entries on the night in question. Of those entries, 27 were attributed to Ansley, while the remaining five were made by other nursing staff. Court records note that the log tracks room entries, not the specific actions taken during each visit. The diagnosis of pediatric physical abuse was made based on the medical findings but does not by itself establish who caused the injuries, according to court documents. Investigators noted that no evidence of trauma had been reported by any other staff member who worked with the child during the months leading up to that night.
The infant was born in November 2025 at just 23 weeks gestation, weighing 1 pound, 1 ounce, according to her grandfather, Robert Steavens. She spent months in the NICU making steady progress. By early April 2026, she had reached her original due date and was cleared to go home within days. The injuries were discovered two days before that planned discharge. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said child abuse filings in the county have risen sharply in recent years. His office handled 158 child abuse cases in 2025, more than double the number recorded in 2021. Through mid-September 2026, 105 cases had already been filed for the year, including the charges against Ansley. Becker noted that child abuse charges require a suspect to have had care and custody authority over the child at the time the alleged abuse occurred — a standard met in Ansley’s case given his role as the infant’s assigned nurse during the overnight shift.
Ansley appeared in Grand Rapids District Court on Sept. 22, 2026, alongside his defense attorney, Damian Nunzio. Judge Kellen Dotson acknowledged the gravity of the case during the hearing. “These are two serious charges, four serious charges in this case,” Dotson said from the bench. Nunzio told reporters outside the courtroom that his client had fully cooperated with investigators from the start. “My client has had many years working with ICU patients and he’s a very good person,” Nunzio said. “We intend on running a thorough investigation to get all the information in this case. We are confident that our investigation will let the truth come to light.” Ansley’s next court hearing is scheduled for early November, with a separate appearance set for Nov. 10. The charges have not been proven in court, and Ansley has not entered a formal plea in the case.
Corewell Health, the parent organization of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, said it acted immediately after the allegation was reported and confirmed that Ansley is no longer employed by the organization. “Our hearts go out to the patient and the patient’s family,” the hospital said in a written statement. “The care and safety of our patients is our top priority, and we have zero tolerance for abuse. Upon receiving the allegation, we took immediate action and the former employee is no longer with our organization. We have been fully cooperating with the police investigation.” The hospital declined further comment and did not answer specific questions from reporters. Steavens, the infant’s grandfather, said the family is pursuing full accountability in the case. “We’re seeking absolute justice,” Steavens said, adding that he wants to ensure the individual involved is never again placed in a position of authority over children. He said the baby, now 10 months old, is living at home in Caledonia and recovering well. “Absolutely amazing,” he said of her progress. “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.”
Ansley remains free on electronic monitoring ahead of his next scheduled court appearance in November. If convicted on both felony counts of second-degree child abuse, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The case is being prosecuted by the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office, and investigators have not publicly announced whether additional charges are under consideration.
