Thursday, July 06, 2000
Coroner: Baby was asphyxiated
Messy house blamed in death
By David Eck
Enquirer Contributor
HAMILTON — A Butler County deputy coroner on Wednesday testified that a 5-month-old infant who died in a Hamilton home last year asphyxiated on plastic sheeting.
Dr. Joseph Brandabur also said the plastic bag had some residual froth from the baby's mouth on it, and he discounted a suggestion that the baby died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Lori Johnson, 22, of Hamilton, the baby's mother, is on trial for felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangering in the death of George W. Bowling III. She is also charged with a misdemeanor count of child endangering regarding her daughter, Casey Bowling.
Ms. Johnson waived her right to a jury trial and the case is being heard by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Matthew Crehan.
The infant died last June in a Ross Avenue duplex that witnesses said was filthy and unkempt.
“The condition that house was in was absolutely deplorable,” said Patricia Randolph, chief investigator for the Butler County Coroner's office. “The floor was quite covered with debris.”
She and Dr. Brandabur said the rooms were covered with uneaten and dried food, soiled diapers, cigarette lighters and electric cords.
Assistant Butler County Prosecutor Pat Moeller maintains the environment — including plastic bags lying around — led to the child's death.
“They were each a landmine waiting to entangle a victim, waiting to harm a child,” Mr. Moeller said. “(Ms. Johnson) recklessly created this minefield of bags and safety hazards.”
But Drew Engel, Ms. Johnson's lawyer, said it isn't known who made the mess in the home.
“We don't know how the child got into the bag. We don't know whether or not ... the bag is what caused the death here,” Mr. Engel said. “If it wasn't SIDS, it was an accident.”
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