You step into a story that unsettles trust in places built for healing. Staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital alerted police after video and staff observations led to allegations that a mother injected a foreign substance into her child’s IV line, sparking immediate safety protocols and an arrest. The central question—what happened, why it matters for hospital safety, and what the legal fallout could mean—frames every detail that follows.
Expect a clear timeline of the allegation, how hospital staff detected and responded to the incident, and the charges and court steps that now shape this case. The next sections unpack those elements so you can understand both the specific claims and the broader implications for patient protection and oversight.
Details of the Hospital Contamination Allegation
Hospital staff say a mother allegedly used a syringe to introduce a visible foreign substance into her infant’s IV line while the child was admitted for treatment. Police records and hospital surveillance form the core of the allegation; the accused was detained and charged in local court.
Incident Timeline and Surveillance Evidence
Hospital personnel told police they first flagged potential abuse on Feb. 6 when staff raised concerns about the child’s condition and the mother’s interactions. According to a criminal complaint filed in Franklin County Municipal Court, staff then placed the mother under observation during visits.
On Feb. 8, staff reviewed surveillance footage and said they observed the mother enter a bathroom carrying a cup and later exit with what appeared to be fecal matter. Hospital employees reported seeing the woman use a syringe and inject a substance from that cup into the child’s IV line near the top of the baby’s left hand, per court documents. Detectives interviewed staff and reviewed the video as part of the investigation.
Accused Individual: Tiffany Marie Lesueur
Authorities identified the woman as Tiffany Marie Lesueur, 35, of Maumee. Court filings list a charge of child endangerment, a third-degree felony, tied to the Feb. 8 incident at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
Lesueur was arraigned in Franklin County Municipal Court and ordered held on a $250,000 bond. The complaint and subsequent reporting note that investigators relied on hospital reports and surveillance; those court documents provide the formal allegations but do not establish guilt. Records show a preliminary hearing was scheduled following the arraignment.
Immediate Response by Hospital Staff
Staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital say they acted promptly: clinicians treated the infant immediately after the alleged contamination was observed. Hospital security and clinicians isolated the IV, provided medical care, and notified Columbus police’ Physical Abuse Unit, according to the complaint.
Hospital officials contacted law enforcement and cooperated with detectives who interviewed witnesses and reviewed surveillance. A hospital spokesperson declined to comment on the child’s condition, citing federal patient-privacy rules, while police confirmed Lesueur was detained at the hospital and later transferred to county custody.
Legal Proceedings and Safety Measures
The case moved quickly into criminal court and hospital security tightened visitation and monitoring protocols. Authorities set specific bail conditions, and investigators from specialized units continued to coordinate with hospital staff.
Charges and Court Hearings
Prosecutors charged the mother with a third-degree felony for endangering children, based on the allegation she introduced a foreign substance into an IV line at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She was arraigned in Franklin County Municipal Court, and the case is scheduled for a preliminary hearing that will determine whether the matter advances to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
Court filings show prosecutors rely on hospital surveillance and staff testimony. Defense counsel can contest evidence at the preliminary hearing and may seek to negotiate bond or reduced charges before any trial in common pleas court.
$250,000 Bond and Bail Conditions
A judge ordered a $250,000 bond to secure the defendant’s release, reflecting the severity of the charge and concerns about public safety. The high bond amount requires either full payment or approved surety; otherwise the defendant remains in custody at the county jail.
The court also imposed standard protective conditions: no unsupervised contact with the child, restrictions on visiting minors, and stay-away orders from the hospital. Violating those conditions can result in re-arrest and additional charges or revocation of bond.
Role of the Domestic Violence Unit
The Columbus Police Domestic Violence Unit took an active role after hospital staff reported the incident and requested further investigation. Detectives from that unit handled the on-site response, interviewed hospital personnel, and collected surveillance and medical records for the criminal complaint.
That unit coordinates with the hospital’s security and Franklin County prosecutors to prioritize victim safety. They also help implement immediate safety measures, such as monitoring future visits and notifying court services about protective conditions during the prosecution.
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