Army settles wrongful death lawsuit over infant's death at a military base babysitter's home
The Army will pay the parents of a 7-month-old girl who died at an unlicensed babysitter's home on a Hawaii base, a grim close to a case that exposed years of ignored warnings.
- Abigail "Abi" Lobisch died in 2019 after being given a lethal dose of the drug in Benadryl while in the care of a babysitter on the Aliamanu Military Reservation.
- The babysitter, Dixie Denise Villa, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years; she is appealing.
- The parents sued the military and the company that ran the base housing, saying both failed to stop Villa from running an unauthorized daycare out of her home.
- The Army had sent multiple cease-and-desist letters in 2017 and 2018 after complaints, but never shut the operation down — a known problem that nobody acted on.
- The $900,000 federal payout covers only the government's share; a separate confidential deal with the housing company is still being negotiated.
Outlook: Pressure is building on the military to tighten how it polices childcare on its bases, while the housing company's settlement and Villa's appeal remain unresolved.