Excerpts from Newspaper Article
A two year old boy was taken to Calumet Medical Center by his foster father just before 3 pm where he was pronounced dead upon arrival, although doctors did perform open heart massage in an effort to resuscitate him. External bruises on the boys body prompted an autopsy and the cause of death was later determined as suffocation due to strenuous child's play.
36 Years Later...
For the past two years Erika, who was an infant at the time of her brother's death, and Courtney, who was not yet born, have tenaciously been researching the circumstances surrounding their brother's death and have many unanswered questions. After digging up old records and documents and talking with the current Calumet County Coroner, the new information brought to light prompted the Chilton City Police to begin inquiries and reopen the file.
According to the former Calumet County Coroners report, the child had numerous bruises on his face, forehead, upper arms, chest, legs and buttocks. According to the examining physician at the hospital, the child also had numerous bruises on his penis and anus. Photos were taken and an autopsy was performed...
The boys sisters received copies of the autopsy and coroner's reports...The two sisters were shocked when they viewed the graphic photos of their brother which clearly showed the multiple injuries he sustained prior to his death.
According to reports, the foster father, found the boys limp and nearly lifeless body when he went upstairs to investigate noises.
Upon viewing the photos and sorting through all the information, the boys sisters abuse of their brother was obvious and disagree with the cause of death as being suffocation due to strenuous child's play. They emphasize that they are not looking to put anyone on trial or seek vengeance of any kind but they would like someone to take responsibility.
In 2004 the sisters consulted with a Child Advocacy Specialist at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. The child's records including the photos were reviewed and stated in a letter sent to the sisters that, "the widely distributed bruises in this young child are extremely suspicious" and that "the extent, and distribution of those on the boy's body are not explained by rough child's play." The bruising on the child's arms show a pattern consistent when "a child is gripped hard by the arm, slapped with an open hand or struck with an object such as a belt."
Unfortunately the man who is suspected of killing this child died in 1996. |