Who Left Him for Dead? Investigation and Prosecution of Abusive Head Trauma

He was only thirty-six days old when he was shaken to death. The constellation of injuries in this case demonstrate that during this violent shaking, the victim suffered extensive bleeding on his brain, retinal hemorrhages too numerous to count, fractured ribs where he was squeezed, fractured limbs from them flailing while being shaken, and damage to the nerves in his spinal cord where they were severed and could no longer send communication to his diaphragm to breathe. During this case study, you will learn the process of investigating child abuse with multiple caretakers, including interview techniques and understanding medical findings associated with abusive head trauma. You will also learn tips for presenting medical testimony, trial strategies, and lessons learned regarding charging decisions.