One-month-old baby dies from abusive head trauma while "in the care of his father" but no arrests though death ruled a homicide (Kinston, North Carolina)

More killer daddy coddling? Dad is identified as RICKY CLARK.

http://www.wcti12.com/news/kinston-police-investigating-homicide-of-onemonthold-baby/27834948?item=0

Autopsy report: 1-month-old died of 'abusive head trauma'

Baby's death now a homicide investigation
By WCTI Staff POSTED: 9:55 AM Sep 02 2014

UPDATED: 8:21 PM Sep 02 2014
Autopsy report: 1-month-old died of 'abusive head trauma'

KINSTON, LENOIR COUNTY -

*Editor's note: The details of the autopsy report are graphic.*

Autopsy documents say a 1-month-old Kinston baby whose death was ruled a homicide died of "abusive head trauma" and other injuries.

The Kinston Department of Public Safety said 1-month-old Caden Demari Williams, of Hill Street, died on Feb. 17. At that time, the cause of death was undetermined.

But an autopsy revealed that the baby's death was a homicide, said police. On Aug. 20, the Kinston Department of Public Safety reopened the investigation.

THE DAY OF CADEN'S DEATH:

According to the autopsy report, 1-month-old Caden was in the care of his father when he coughed up blood on Feb. 17. The father then changed the baby's clothes and put him back to bed, the report says.

About an hour later, the father checked on Caden and found the 1-month-old unresponsive, the report states. The baby's parents and paternal grandparents then took the infant to Lenoir Memorial Hospital.

The report says the baby had no pulse and CPR was performed. But the infant was not responsive and was pronounced dead at 2:50 a.m. on Feb. 17, just 16 minutes after arriving at the hospital, according to the report.

AUTOPSY RESULTS:

The Brody School of Medicine at ECU performed an autopsy.

"Autopsy examination revealed acute subdural hemorrhage suspicious for abusive head trauma as well as rib fractures, contusions of the thymus and right middle lobe of the lung, and multiple lacerations of the liver," the report says.

The 1-month-old was suffering from subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain), according to the report. In addition, the baby had mild brain swelling and retinal bleeding, as well as a skull fracture, a spinal cord injury, and four rib fractures.

"[The injuries are] consistent with compressive grasping of the infant by the chest and vigorously shaking and slamming the infant against a relatively soft but nonyielding object. Striking the infant with a hand or fist would produce similar injuries," the report states.

Further examination of the baby's brain revealed that the injuries were acute and occurred within hours of the baby's death, according to the report. An examination of the spinal cord revealed that the injuries were acute and in the process of healing, with some prior injuries dating back at least two to four days, the report says.

The baby's rib fractures were healing, indicating that the injuries had occurred several days prior to his death, the report states.

The report explains that the infant could have appeared relatively normal just hours before the fatal injuries were inflicted.

Based on the findings, the report concluded that the cause of death is "abusive head trauma and blunt/compressive force injuries of the trunk."

No arrest has been made in this case. The investigation is ongoing, police said.

FAMILY MEMBERS SPEAK:

NewsChannel 12 talked with the baby's mother, Tyrianna Williams, on Tuesday about her son's death.

"I'm a nice person. I was a good mother to him. Caden-- he was just the most precious baby," said Williams. "He passed through my mind every single day, but I try not to like cry and show emotions. Because like he's a part of me, I just want to know why it happened."

Williams said the father of the child, Ricky Clark, has not told her much about her son's last moments.

"Come forth and like, if you don't want to go to nobody else, just come to me and tell me like what happened, why it happened, and just explain to me everything," Williams said.

NewsChannel 12 visited Clark's home Tuesday to get his side of the story, but no one came to the door.

Tyrianna Williams' aunt, Nakia Blackwell, said she is bothered by Clark's silence.

Where you at? Come out, come out wherever you are. That's the way I feel," Blackwell said.

Blackwell told NewsChannel 12 she called the medical examiner every week for the past six months to check up on the case.

"It's [sic] only a few things that could have happened. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out," said Blackwell.

In addition to his mother, father and grandparents, 1-month-old Caden is survived by a sister, according to his obituary.

PREVIOUS STORY:

Police say the death of a 1-month-old baby in Kinston has been ruled as a homicide.

The Kinston Department of Public Safety said 1-month-old Caden Demari Williams died on Feb. 17. The next day, officers went to the baby's home on Hill Street and spoke with the infant's grandmother. But at that time, the cause of death was undetermined, police said

An autopsy on the baby was performed on Feb. 19. On Aug. 17, the autopsy report was filed and ruled the 1-month-old's death as a homicide, said investigators.

Police said they reopened the case on Aug. 20 for further investigation.

No arrest has been made in this case and police did not explain exactly how the baby was killed. The investigation is ongoing.

According to Caden's obituary, the 1-month-old is survived by his mother, father, sister and grandparents.