Babysitter named as main suspect in unsolved death of 2-year-old

Bea Daleon's family has had no contact with the former babysitter for many months. Photo / File

A babysitter who has moved to the Philippines has become a main suspect in a 4-year-old unsolved child death.

Karen De Luna is the police's prime suspect in the death of Southland 2-year-old Bea Daleon, who died after her skull was fractured in 2012, Fairfax reported.

Police have told the family their daughter suffered a "non-accidental head injury".

The toddler was rushed to Invercargill Hospital after suffering a seizure but died days later when her life support was switched off.

Ms De Luna, who babysat the child while here parents worked on nearby dairy farms, has since returned to the Philippines.

She was interviewed by police soon after the death and allowed to leave New Zealand with her husband several months later.

But now Bea's father, Benedict Daleon, has revealed police would most likely charge her in relation to their child's death.

Fairfax reported the former babysitter knew police wanted to talk to her but there had been no contact with her for many months.

They were also not able to force her to return to New Zealand to face charges as the two countries did not have an extradition treaty.

Mr Daleon said they were frustrated by the length of time the police investigation had taken and had since moved to Australia to escape the tragedy.