Hilary Ulp Arraigned on First Degree Child Abuse Charges

Just after 9 o’clock on a Friday morning, Kevin Kuras picked up his 14-month-old son, Nicolas Kuras, only to discover that something was terribly wrong with his baby. The child was completely unresponsive, his head flopping around on his neck. Frantic, he had his girlfriend, Hilary Ulp, call 911.

 
EMT’s claim that they were able to tell instantly that the child had been abused. Both Kuras and Ulp were immediately interviewed. But when police discovered that Ulp had been alone with the baby all of the previous evening while Kuras was out playing cards with friends, they released Kuras and focused the investigation on Ulp.

 
According to hospital administrators, little Nicolas suffered a severe head injury causing bleeding on the brain, along with a broken pelvis, a broken collar bone, and multiple broken ribs..

 
According to information released from Kuras’ interview, Ulp was a very jealous and insecure person, and the attack on the toddler may have resulted from that. According to Kuras, doctors have explained to him that his son was picked up, and then squeezed and shaken.

 
Medical staff believe that the child was injured the night before, and then left without treatment until his father discovered him the next morning.

 
In court, Ulp apparently told the Judge that she had never intended to hurt the child, and that she loved him like he was her own son. She also apparently attempted to secure her release based on the fact that she needed to go home and see her own 11-year-old daughter.  Her request was denied.

 
A family friend who has known Kuras for some time, and who helped to care for the child after his mother’s untimely death, says there were warning signs. She claims that every time Ulp entered the room, Nicolas began to cry.

 
Ulp was arraigned in the 38th District Court the following Monday. She is charged with first degree child abuse, which in Michigan is a felony that could result in a lifetime in prison if convicted.  She has retained an attorney to help defend against these charges.