Dad "under investigation" in death of 2-month-old son; arrested for meth possession (Speedwell, Tennessee)

Dad EARL HOWARD is "under investigation" in the death of his 2-month-old infant. While authorities are trying to decide whether they will charge Howard in this incident, they have charged and arrested him for meth possession. Where the mother is in all this is anybody's guess. Single dad? Child visitation? "Babysitting" while Mom is working? You tell me, since the media seldom provides the context for these things.

http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/86879322.html

Updated: 11:13 AM Mar 8, 2010

Baby's death under investigation in Claiborne County

Investigators in Claiborne County are trying to figure out how a nearly 2-month-old baby died over the weekend, according to Claiborne County Sheriff's Capt. David Honeycutt.

Posted: 10:51 AM Mar 8, 2010

SPEEDWELL, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Investigators in Claiborne County are trying to figure out how a nearly 2-month-old baby died over the weekend, according to Claiborne County Sheriff's Capt. David Honeycutt.

Honeycutt says officers were called to the home at 203 Davis Creek Rd. in Speedwell Saturday morning between 10:30 and 11:00, on a report of an unresponsive child.

The baby was taken to a hospital in LaFollette, Tenn., where the child was pronounced dead. The baby's father, Earl Howard, was arrested and charged with possession of meth.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, but preliminary investigation suggests the baby may have been killed by compression, Honeycutt says, perhaps when Howard rolled over onto the child in bed.

"Anytime you deal with a child's death, especially a pretty little young'un like this, it's just heartbreaking, terrible," Honeycutt said. "I can't put it into words."

It's not clear whether Howard was under the influence of meth, or any other substance, at the time of the incident.

Investigators have not decided whether to charge Howard with the child's death.