Kieran L. Ansley, a 43-year-old NICU nurse at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, was fired and charged with four counts of child abuse after a 4-month-old patient was found with multiple leg fractures and widespread bruising following an overnight shift on April 2–3, 2026. Hospital logs show Ansley was present for the majority of overnight room entries, and colleagues described him as flustered and overwhelmed. Authorities say medical findings were consistent with pediatric physical abuse; Ansley’s lawyer says he is cooperating and a full investigation is expected.
NICU Nurse Fired and Charged After 4-Month-Old Found With Multiple Fractures at Grand Rapids Hospital
A view of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich.Credit: Google Maps
A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been dismissed and charged with child abuse after a 4-month-old girl in his care was found to have multiple fractures and extensive bruising.
Court records reviewed by local outlets MLive and WOOD identify the accused as 43-year-old Kieran L. Ansley. Investigators say the injuries were discovered after an overnight shift that began on April 2 and continued into the early hours of April 3, 2026. The infant’s mother reported new bruising and a darkened tongue when she returned to the hospital the following morning.
Allegations and Medical Findings
Medical staff ordered tests to rule out underlying conditions. Doctors determined the infant had broken bones in both legs, including fractures affecting the knee, lower-leg bones near the ankle, and a smaller bone in the lower leg. Bruising was documented on the hands, arms, thigh, buttocks, abdomen and tongue. According to the court documents, "the totality of the findings resulted in a diagnosis of pediatric physical abuse."
Hospital Logs and Staff Accounts
Corewell Health, which operates Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, provided an entry log showing who entered the infant’s room and when. Investigators say the log recorded 32 entries between 8:11 p.m. on April 2 and 6:54 a.m. on April 3; Ansley was logged in the room for 27 of those entries, while five other entries were brief nurse visits totaling roughly four minutes. Other staff members told investigators they had observed Ansley interacting with patients in ways described as "aggressive," "frantic" or "overwhelmed."
Grand Rapids Police vehicleCredit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
Legal Action and Responses
A warrant was issued charging Ansley with four counts of child abuse: two counts of second-degree child abuse and two counts of fourth-degree child abuse (misdemeanors). Ansley was fired from his position at the hospital after the allegations emerged.
"Our hearts go out to the patient and the patient's family," a Corewell Health spokesperson told reporters. "The care and safety of our patients is our top priority, and we have zero tolerance for abuse."
At a court appearance on Sept. 22, Ansley’s defense attorney, Damian Nunzio, said his client was cooperating with investigators and that the defense intends to conduct a thorough inquiry. "My client has had many years working with ICU patients, and he's a very good person," Nunzio said, expressing confidence that a full investigation will reveal the truth.
Family Statement and Current Status
The infant’s grandfather, Robert Steavens, told WOOD the child had been born extremely premature in November 2025 at 23 weeks and weighing 1 pound, 1 ounce, and had been preparing to go home in April before the incident. Steavens later said the child, described in reporting as "now 10 months old," is currently at home in Caledonia, Michigan, and the family says she is recovering.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident. PEOPLE and local outlets MLive and WOOD reported on court filings and hospital logs; Corewell Health declined further comment beyond its initial statement and investigators are active on the case.
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