Mother living 'ongoing nightmare' after 2-year-old son died at unlicensed Kenosha day care

Hunter Jones

KENOSHA -- A Kenosha man was charged in the death of a 2-year-old boy at an unlicensed day care. Hunter Jones, 23, faces one count of first degree homicide. He's accused of killing 2-year-old Matthew Bolinski in March, who was staying at Jones' home.

Jones was in court on Friday, July 12 for his preliminary hearing. A detective with the Kenosha Police Department testified, and Jones was bound over for trial. An arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 1.

Ahead of the hearing, Bolinski's mother spoke exclusively with FOX6 News about her son after staying silent for so long.

"I still pretend like he's sleeping in the other room," said Katherine Bolinski. "Now, it's just like, an ongoing nightmare -- of waking up and there are moments where I just wish he could be with me still."

Inside Katherine Bolinski's apartment, the bedroom was filled with toys; a fire truck, toy trains, and dinosaurs. Next to that was the urn containing the ashes of Matthew Bolinski.

 

Katherine Bolinski

"I was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom. We were together every day. Went to the park, went swimming," said Bolinski.

On March 27, Bolinski, a single mother, said she dropped Matthew off at the home of Jones and his wife -- located near 23rd Avenue and Lincoln Road in Kenosha -- so she could go to work.

"That day I dropped him off, he threw a fit like no other fit, and I obviously regret having to do that now, because of the outcome, but that's my last memory of him alive," said Bolinski.

The next time Bolinski would see her little boy was at the coroner's office.

Matthew Bolinski

Katherine Bolinski

"His eyes went from a deep blue, to really, really light blue. Bruises all over his face. I lost it. I just couldn't hold it back," Bolinski said.

For months, Bolinski said she held back talking about her son, until prosecutors charged Jones.

Court filings said the boy's body had a number of injuries to his head and neck, which weren't there earlier in the day.

"I'm confused. I'm hurt. I'm angry," said Bolinski.

Matthew Bolinski

It's a day Bolinski wishes she could have back.

"That was my life. My son was my life. My life didn't start until I had my son, and now, I feel like I don't even know what's going on. How this is even happening, and how this is even my reality?" said Bolinski.