Baby’s death ruled homicide
September 8, 2010 - By DEANNE JOHNSON/Staff Writer
SALEM - The death in July of a 7-month-old boy has been ruled a homicide, according to the report released Tuesday by the Columbiana County coroner.
Using descriptions including multiple injuries to the head and body caused by blunt-force trauma, the report verifies the cause of death suspected as a possibility early on by police.
"This child sustained multiple injuries," Talbert said, "in multiple stages of healing."
Talbert and police Chief Robert Floor both said from the beginning the case was being investigated as "suspicious." What followed were months of investigation by police. Talbert said he has interviewed and reinterviewed family members and others, reviewed the preliminary report of the coroner and met with doctors.
The official ruling of homicide is another step in the case, and Talbert said he has been going over it extensively, but no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon. The case remains under investigation, however Talbert said it is progressing.
Derek Andrew Dennison died July 23, the day he turned seven months old. Salem police were called to Salem Community Hospital at 12:38 a.m. on that Friday to investigate the death of the child. His mother, Miranda Todd, 22, 264 N. Ellsworth Ave., Apt. 4, had taken him to the hospital herself. He was unresponsive, and doctors were unable to revive him.
Greg Dennison was the boy's father, according to his obituary.
During the child's funeral in Lisbon, police were called due to arguments between family members and other guests at the funeral. One police report at the time stated someone attempted to take a photo of the dead infant with a cell phone.
Talbert also commented Tuesday on the death of a 7 -month-old girl, who died Sept. 1. The death of Mackenzie Rose Everly, does not appear at this point to have been a case of foul play, according to Talbert. However, he still is awaiting the preliminary report from the autopsy.
Police tried to revive the infant in front of her home at 167 W. Seventh St., after someone called to report she was not breathing. Her parents are listed as Mark and Sonya Everly.
djohnson@mojonews.com
Using descriptions including multiple injuries to the head and body caused by blunt-force trauma, the report verifies the cause of death suspected as a possibility early on by police.
"This child sustained multiple injuries," Talbert said, "in multiple stages of healing."
Talbert and police Chief Robert Floor both said from the beginning the case was being investigated as "suspicious." What followed were months of investigation by police. Talbert said he has interviewed and reinterviewed family members and others, reviewed the preliminary report of the coroner and met with doctors.
The official ruling of homicide is another step in the case, and Talbert said he has been going over it extensively, but no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon. The case remains under investigation, however Talbert said it is progressing.
Derek Andrew Dennison died July 23, the day he turned seven months old. Salem police were called to Salem Community Hospital at 12:38 a.m. on that Friday to investigate the death of the child. His mother, Miranda Todd, 22, 264 N. Ellsworth Ave., Apt. 4, had taken him to the hospital herself. He was unresponsive, and doctors were unable to revive him.
Greg Dennison was the boy's father, according to his obituary.
During the child's funeral in Lisbon, police were called due to arguments between family members and other guests at the funeral. One police report at the time stated someone attempted to take a photo of the dead infant with a cell phone.
Talbert also commented Tuesday on the death of a 7 -month-old girl, who died Sept. 1. The death of Mackenzie Rose Everly, does not appear at this point to have been a case of foul play, according to Talbert. However, he still is awaiting the preliminary report from the autopsy.
Police tried to revive the infant in front of her home at 167 W. Seventh St., after someone called to report she was not breathing. Her parents are listed as Mark and Sonya Everly.
djohnson@mojonews.com
1 comment:
I am dereks grandmother we miss him so much... cant believe someone is not in custody yet... please help with some justice for derek... he was such a sweet little angel...
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