2022 Western Medical Research Conference

Girl Raped While In The Care Of Baby Sitter, Attorney Says

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- A young girl shown on video being sexually assaulted was raped while in the care of a baby sitter her mother hired, the mother's attorney said Tuesday.

Chester Arthur Stiles, 37, of Nevada is being sought as a suspect in the videotaped rape of a young girl.

The mother did not know her daughter had ever been victimized and was apparently oblivious to efforts to find her until last Friday, Jerry T. Donohue said.

"A family friend called her and said, 'My God, you need to turn on the TV. I believe that is your daughter,'" he said.

Donohue said the mother recognized the suspect, Chester Arthur Stiles, 37, a former animal trainer.

The abuse most likely occurred while the mother - a single woman working six days a week - was at work, Donohue said.

The attorney said he knows who the baby sitter is, but would not release that information because of the ongoing investigation.

Earlier, officials had said the girl, who is now 7, was 3-years-old at the time the video was made. But Donohue said Tuesday, "To my understanding, the abuse occurred before she was 3 years old."

The mother of the girl asked that the news media leave the family alone.

"I want to ask you, the press, to respect my family's privacy and to not attempt to contact my daughter or myself," the mother said in a written statement read by her attorney. Watch Donohue read the mother's statement »

The mother also said she is cooperating with investigators and that her daughter "is safe and healthy."

The girl's videotaped rape set off a nationwide search last week. She was found Friday with family in Las Vegas, Nevada, after thousands of tips poured in.

Professionals have since evaluated her and she appears to be "healthy and fine and happy," the lawyer said.

The lawyer said neither he nor the mother has watched the videotape.

Asked whether the mother is thankful to the news media for having published the girl's picture so that authorities were able to identify her, Donohue said, "Not really ... There's some things maybe you don't want to know."

Still, he said, he hopes the man in the tape is brought to justice.

"Speaking as a father myself, I wish the guy would dig a hole in the desert and put a gun in his mouth," he said, referring to such an outcome as "Wild-West justice."

Meanwhile, the intense manhunt for Stiles continued Tuesday.

On Monday, Stiles' former girlfriend, Tina Allen, told CNN she thinks she is the reason Stiles came in contact with the girl and is "mortified" by the allegations against him.

Allen said she and Stiles were in an on-again, off-again relationship for 10 years until recently, when she called it off.

"He said he'd been in the Navy and, you know, I was looking for a strong guy to represent to my sons what I thought they needed to be," Allen said.

Allen said she took Stiles to a crowded apartment where her son and daughter lived. Also living in the apartment were a family friend and her daughter, who allegedly was victimized by Stiles.

"I'm disgusted. I'm ashamed, embarrassed, mortified," Allen said of the alleged rape. "I regret every, every step I ever took, I feel bad for the baby."

The FBI is also seeking Stiles, a resident of Pahrump, Nevada, in a separate matter involving state charges of sexual assault and lewdness with a minor under the age of 14. Pahrump is about 60 miles west of Las Vegas.

A man who said he found the tape in the desert and held it for at least five months before handing it over to authorities turned himself in Sunday to Nye County officials.

Darren Tuck, a Nevada resident who allegedly showed the tape to others before giving it to police, faces charges of exhibiting pornography and possession of child pornography. E-mail to a friend

All About Crime • Sexual Offenses

Special Care Baby Unit - What You Need To Know

All maternity hospitals have a Special Care Baby Unit (SBCU), or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NNICU), to care for babies who need extra care after they're born.

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Within the neonatal unit there will often be an intensive care unit for very sick babies, and also a high dependency unit for babies that need intravenous feeding (with a drip) or help with their breathing.

The rest of the unit will be devoted to babies whose needs are less serious – perhaps they need a bit of extra oxygen to help them breathe for a few days, or phototherapy treatment for newborn jaundice.

The vast majority of babies in special care are premature babies but the needs of these babies can vary a lot, so some will be in for a long time, while others may just be in for a day or two.

The care your baby will receive depends a lot on his particular health problems, but the following guide will give you a general insight into some of the things you'll experience if your baby needs to go into SCBU.

Equipment in the special care unit

Premature babies, and those with other health problems, need to be monitored very closely, as they're prone to infection and may need help with their breathing.

Tiny babies are also not very good at controlling their own body temperature – this is why they're placed in incubators, where the temperature is strictly controlled. You may wonder why babies in incubators aren't wrapped in blankets – it may not look cosy, but there's a good reason for it. The staff know exactly what the temperature is inside the incubator, so your baby will never be too cold, even without coverings, and this makes it much easier for the medical staff to keep an eye out for changes in skin colour, and see if your baby is breathing well.

If your baby is very premature or has trouble breathing, he won't be able to suck, so may be fed milk via a tube into his stomach.

How to help your baby in special care

When your baby's in the SCBU, you may feel a bit helpless – he's being cared for by so many efficient doctors and nurses that it can seem as if there's very little you can do to help. But you're very special to your baby and your love is just as vital to his wellbeing as his medical treatment.

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Talk to the staff to find out how you can get involved in caring for your baby and how you can ensure that what your doing is of benefit. If they do rule out anything you want to do – such as cuddling your baby – it's probably because they know your baby won't be able to cope with it yet.

Here are some of the ways you may be able to help him:

Talk to him soothingly Your baby will recognise your voice from when he was inside you – tests show that even the tiniest babies respond to their parents voices.

Touch your baby The touch of your skin is comforting and soothing, and has been shown to benefit premature or sick babies. If your baby is very tiny or ill, the most you can do may be what's called containment holding. This is very simply laying your hand, very gently, on your baby's body, and leaving it there, perfectly still for a few moments. Your baby will be aware of the human touch and will find it comforting. This still touch is often better for very vulnerable babies than stroking or patting, which can be too stressful.

Kangaroo care When babies are snuggled against their parents skin it will help you bond with him, but it will improve your baby's wellbeing, too. Babies who've experienced kangaroo care sleep better, eat better, cry less and even have more oxygen flowing through their blood than those who haven't.

Feed your baby If your baby is very premature or unwell in the beginning he may need to be fed intravenously – where glucose is fed directly into his veins. Later on, your breast milk will be the best thing for him. Prem' babies digestive systems are incredibly delicate, but breast milk is easily digested and contains antibodies that will help your baby fight infection. If he's too weak to suckle, your milk can be given via a tube in his nose.

Get to know the staff You'll feel more at home and part of the team if you understand how the unit works. If you find it hard to understand your baby's condition talk to the sister in charge of the ward, or ask to see the pediatrician, who'll be able to sit down with you and talk things through.

How you may be feeling

Visiting your baby day after day in the SCBU can be emotionally exhausting. Don't feel guilty about taking time out for you and your partner. You've both been through a tough time, too. Try to talk through your emotions, as this is one way to ease the pressure and keep your relationship strong.

A mum's story 'My baby wasn't breathing'

"On the second day after the birth, while I was still in hospital, I got a real fright when Stephanie stopped breathing and her skin turned blue while I was feeding her.

"The doctor examined her and said there's a tiny valve in babies' lungs which closes birth but sometimes it takes a couple of days, and this is what happened to Stephanie.

"She went into special care so her breathing could be monitored for a couple of days to make sure she was all right, and then she was given the all clear and I took her home.

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"She never had any problems breathing after that, and I've almost forgotten the fright I got when it all happened!"Eileen, mum to Stephanie, 2

Light Therapy For Psoriasis: What You Need To Know

For some people, over-the-counter or prescription creams are enough to manage psoriasis. However, if your skin remains itchy, scaly, and red, you may want to consider trying phototherapy, also known as light therapy.

This is a type of psoriasis treatment that often uses ultraviolet (UV) light, which reduces inflammation and slows down the creation of skin cells.

Phototherapy is also used for other skin conditions, such as eczema. However, it's not as simple as just going out in the sun.

To be safely treated with phototherapy, it's best to talk with a doctor about your options.

Did you know?

Phototherapy is considered safe for children and people who are pregnant.

A variety of different types of UV light treatments exist, including the following main types.

If you're ready to try phototherapy, consider which treatment will be best for you. A doctor may recommend combining UV therapy with a prescription cream.

Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) light therapy

Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) is the most prevalent form of phototherapy. It can be used to treat plaque psoriasis, which is the most common type of psoriasis, and guttate psoriasis.

NB-UVB lamps and light bulbs emit wavelengths of light between 311 and 313 nanometers (nm). Your starting dose will depend on your skin type and how easily you burn or tan.

NB-UVB light therapy is most effective when performed two or three times a week. Once the skin is clear, maintenance sessions can be performed on a weekly basis.

A 2017 study showed that around 75% of people receiving NB-UVB treatments found it cleared their psoriasis or led to minimal symptoms. They used fewer prescription creams for their condition, too.

NB-UVB treatments may prove more effective when combined with topical treatments, such as vitamin D analogs and corticosteroids.

Broadband ultraviolet B (BB-UVB) light therapy

Broadband ultraviolet B (BB-UVB) light therapy is an older form than NB-UVB. The two treatments are similar.

However, BB-UVB lamps and light bulbs emit wavelengths of light between 270 and 390 nm. As with NB-UVB, your starting dose will depend on your skin type.

BB-UVB is considered less effective than NB-UVB and is more likely to cause side effects. It should be reserved for instances where NB-UVB is not a treatment option.

It can be prescribed as a monotherapy or alongside retinoid acitretin (Soriatane). In combination therapy, the skin clears up faster, and lower doses of UVB can be used.

Targeted ultraviolet B (UVB) light therapy

Targeted ultraviolet B (UVB) light therapy is applied to small areas of the body. It often involves the use of an excimer laser, excimer light, or NB-UVB light.

If you have psoriasis over less than 10% of your body (known as localized psoriasis), this treatment might work for you.

This approach exposes you to fewer UV rays overall, which can help reduce side effects and health risks. It also can result in faster clearing of the skin.

For best results, it should be performed two to three times a week.

Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy

This approach uses ultraviolet A (UVA) light with psoralen, a medication that increases your sensitivity to light. Psoralen can be:

taken orally

mixed in bathwater

applied topically

In general, PUVA is highly effective but not widely used or available.

Oral PUVA comes with the highest risk of drug interactions and side effects (such as nausea). It's most effective when combined with an oral retinoid.

Bath PUVA works best for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

For the best results, you should undergo at least 20 phototherapy sessions, according to a 2016 study.

PUVA is the most effective of the major forms of phototherapy, according to 2019 treatment guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF).

The next most effective phototherapy treatments are NB-UVB, followed by targeted UVB therapy, and BB-UVB.

Although PUVA is more effective overall, NB-UVB is more often recommended by dermatologists because it's less expensive, easier to use, and causes fewer side effects. To boost its effectiveness, NB-UVB is often used with additional medications.

Certain people should not try light therapy. This includes people with:

In addition, certain medications — including some antibiotics — make you sensitive to light, which can affect this treatment.

Phototherapy can:

It increases your risk of certain types of skin cancer, so a doctor will watch for warning signs during and after treatment.

Home NB-UVB phototherapy is recommended for certain people with plaque psoriasis as an alternative to in-office NB-UVB phototherapy. It can be used for mild, moderate, or severe disease.

Many people who use phototherapy as a long-term treatment like the ease and lower cost of doing it at home.

You usually have a few rounds of in-office therapy first to make sure it works. You still need to see a dermatologist regularly to monitor your skin and get advice on using your home device.

According to CostHelper, an at-home phototherapy unit can typically cost between $2,000 and $6,000 or more.

Medicaid and Medicare — as well as many private insurance policies — often cover in-office treatment.

What light is best for psoriasis?

Some studies have shown that over 70% of people who received oral psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) achieved a 75% improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score.

About 75% of people receiving narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) treatments, the most common type of phototherapy, found it cleared their psoriasis or reduced the symptoms, according to another study published in 2017.

What color light is good for psoriasis?

Blue or red light is the best option for psoriasis.

How often do you need light therapy for psoriasis?

For best results, you should undergo at least 20 phototherapy sessions, according to a 2016 study.

If you're interested in phototherapy as a treatment option, talk with a doctor to find out if you're a good candidate.

It's important that you discuss the risks and benefits with a doctor when deciding if the treatment is right for you.

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