"Caretaking" dad goes on trial for murder of 18-month-old daughter (West Union, Ohio)

I am so sick of these cases. Dad DAVID CHAMBERS is yet another one of these unemployed/underemployed abuser losers who plays at child "caretaking" while Mama has to work to support his lazy @ss. Yet again, we have a "frustrated" dad he apparently battered his 18-month-old daughter to death. I'm guessing that an interrupted video game had something to do with it.

http://www.maysville-online.com/news/local/article_daea07c4-5ef7-11df-8b4e-001cc4c03286.html

Chambers trial begins following delayed jury selection
By WENDY MITCHELL, Staff Writer Posted: Thursday, May 13, 2010 9:25 pm

WEST UNION, Ohio -- Choosing the last jury members of Adams County Court of Common Pleas at 11 a.m., Thursday, the trial of David Chambers for the alleged murder of his daughter began.

Opening statements were brief.

According to the case to be presented by Adams County Prosecutor's Office, the injuries which led to the death of Chambers daughter, LaKaylee in September 2009 were not consistent with a fall as her father had told officials.

Her death was caused by "traumatic brain injury due to blunt head trauma," said Special Prosecutor David Kelley, walking across the courtroom to within a few feet of Chambers, who was seated with his attorney, Herman Carson.

According to Kelly, Chambers was, allegedly "pissed off and in a rage when he did it," pointing at Chambers.

Carson painted another picture for the jury.

According to Carson, Chambers, who was often alone with his daughter when his wife worked, had prepared the 18-month-old a morning cup of milk about 5:30 a.m., Sept. 15, 2009, and laid her on the couch where she fell asleep.

Chambers allegedly proceeded to play a video game, then went upstairs to use the bathroom.

Carson told the jury Chambers heard LaKaylee ascend the stairs outside the bathroom door and called out her name. Next he heard her fall down the stairs, then discovered her laying still on the tiled landing with her eyes open.

During the statements by Carson, Chambers was seen rubbing his eyes and appeared to be crying.

Carson detailed Chambers' alleged efforts to arouse LaKaylee, stating Chambers first believed she was playing a game, then panicking when she appeared to be having seizures.

Carson added, testimony would be forthcoming to explain why LaKaylee, born premature and small for her age, was potentially awkward walking and that her injuries were the result of a "cartwheeling fall down the stairs."

He stressed her injuries were not from an assault, abuse or torture.

The first witness was also one of the first medically trained individuals to attend LaKaylee after Chambers went for help.

Marla Stribling described Chambers catching her about 7:20 a.m., as she was about to send her children off to school and go to work. A family friend and EMT who lived a few doors down in the same apartment complex, Stribling was accustomed to Chambers seeking her out for second opinions on his daughter's health, she said.

"He said he thought LaKaylee was having a seizure and, 'Will you come and check on her,'" Stribling said.

Stribling found LaKaylee, "posturing," "shaking," "unresponsive" and exhibiting "agonal breathing" which she realized was more than seizure activity and was a need for emergency medical attention.

She sent Chambers to call 911 for help, and he complied by having Stribling's daughter, Shana, call at 7:34 a.m., according to court records entered into evidence later in the day.

Testimony from LaKaylee's great-aunt, who was also an EMT with the Manchester LifeSquad crew sent to the home, became emotional as Vicki Barr described seeing the child's bruised face and eyes, then allowing others to care for LaKaylee.

A paramedic from the West Union LifeSquad, which had take over care of LaKaylee and transferred her to emergency room doctors at Adams County Regional Medical Center, testified LaKaylee appeared to have old and new bruising, especially on her face.

According Terry Adams, when she was asking LaShea Chambers, LaKaylee's mother, at ACRMC about the bruising, LaShea said LaKaylee had fallen down steps a few days before and the marks near her eyes were new. Adams was also told LaKaylee had a history of detached retinas and was a premature baby at birth.

Adams also described seeing indications of a head trauma, including a "blown pupil" and the "whites of her eyes were red."

Barr also testified Chambers had allegedly confessed to her, while his child was in critical condition at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, he had caused LaKaylee's death.

Expecting a session with the next witness to last more than 45 minutes, which would have exceeded the 4 p.m. ending time Judge Brett Spencer had promised jurors, court adjourned for the day.

The trial, which is scheduled to run into next week, reconvenes at 8:30 a.m., today.