Crystal Lake woman convicted after prosecutors say she broke baby’s rib during diaper change

The operator of a daycare in Crystal Lake was found guilty of aggravated battery after prosecutors said she pinned down a baby and broke one of his ribs while changing his diaper.

Ann Migliorato, 63, was found guilty Wednesday of three counts of aggravated battery to a child, class X felonies, and one misdemeanor count of unlawful operation of a childcare facility.

McHenry County prosecutors said that Migliorato was operating an unlicensed daycare from her home in Crystal Lake in April of 2024 when she was changing the diaper of an 11-month-old boy.

Fearing the baby was being hurt, a 10-year-old girl who was there discreetly used a cellphone to record what she was witnessing, prosecutors said.

She later showed the video to her mother, who contacted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, triggering an investigation.

The video, which was shown to the jury, showed Migliorato forcefully changing the infant’s diaper by using her body weight to push the baby’s legs above his head while restraining him, prosecutors said.

The infant can be heard crying and making gurgling and grunting sounds that prosecutors said were consistent with pressure being applied to his neck or chest. As the baby struggled, prosecutors said, Migliorato was heard saying, “Every day I’m sick of this with you. Now you are going to pee again, no you’re not. No, you’re not. You’re not peeing all over me.”

She continued pinning the infant while saying to him, “I told you, I don’t play, dude.” As the infant became increasingly lethargic and his right arm went limp, prosecutors said, Migliorato added, “You might want to give your mom a run for the money, and everyone else in town, but not me.”

Medical testimony at trial stated that the infant suffered a fractured rib in that time frame. Physicians also determined that he had two additional healing rib fractures consistent with prior abuse, prosecutors said.

A jury returned the verdict after about an hour of deliberation following a three-day jury trial. The defendant’s attorney was not immediately available for comment.

Migliorato’s case was set for sentencing Oct. 8. Illinois law for Class X felonies generally calls for a sentence of at least six years in prison with no probation allowed.