By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Martin

GEORGETOWN - A police officer in this Brown County village has been charged in the Nov. 3 death of his three-month-old daughter after allegedly lying about why she needed medical treatment.

Officer Randolph Martin, 29, is being held at the Clermont County Jail after his arrest Friday on involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment charges.

The baby, Emme Magdalyn Martin, was buried Saturday.

Officer Martin confessed to investigators that he shook his baby, Brown County Prosecutor Thomas Greenan said Sunday.

But when he made the 911 call about noon on Nov. 1 he said Emme may have drowned, Mr. Greenan said. Officer Martin had been home alone with the baby while his wife worked.

Emme was rushed to Brown County General Hospital, then transferred to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in critical condition, a nursing supervisor said. The baby died Nov. 3, a Children's Hospital nursing supervisor.

The patrolman told the medical staff Emme slipped underneath the water in the infant bathtub. But doctors were suspicious because the baby had a head injury, Mr. Greenan said.

After an autopsy concluded the baby died as a result of hemorrhaging to the brain, Officer Martin changed his story Wednesday in an interview with sheriff's investigators, the prosecutor said.

"That's when he said he shook the child and the story about drowning in the bathtub was made up," Mr. Greenan said. "He did not explain why he shook the child."

The National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse reports the number of child deaths from maltreatment per year may be as high as 5,000. In most cases, the child's death is the result of head trauma, including the trauma known as Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Georgetown Police Department officials did not return calls for comment Sunday. Officer Martin was stripped of his police powers and placed on administrative leave Friday, Mr. Greenan said, but he did not know if it was a paid leave.

The accusations surprised many in the village of 7,474 residents southeast of Cincinnati.

Lora Turner, who lives a few doors from Officer Martin's home, described him as an amiable neighbor and excellent policeman. .

"He was always very, very pleasant and considerate and concerned about his wife," Mrs. Turner said. "I never heard anything derogatory about him. It's so very sad."

Services for Emme were held Saturday, drawing about 100 people, said the family's minister, The Rev. Chuck Wilsey of Mt. Orab Church of Christ.

"They are a wonderful couple and just a very lovely family," The Rev. Mr. Wilsey said of the Martins. "It is a very terrible tragedy. Keep praying for the family.

"They are going through hard times right now."

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.