Beginning in 2016, this case study will take an in-depth look at a case where a killer almost got away with murder. It all began with a 4-year-old female presenting with hemorrhages in her eyes and 2 rib fractures in different healing stages. Several weeks later, she was found unresponsive in her home. The medical examiner determined her cause of death, “undetermined”, making it nearly impossible for investigators to move forward with her death investigation. Fast forward to 2018, her 8-year-old, brother presents with the same hemorrhaging in his eyes at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After a long, difficult investigation, and a lot of intense trauma therapy, the brother broke his silence about his abuse, allowing investigators to re-open his sister’s death, ruling it a homicide. This case study will look at the MDT approach and the roles each member played throughout this investigation in order to formally charge a child abuser and murderer
Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn about the signs of strangulation as a form of child abuse and recognize the signs and the importance of the medical exam.
Participants will learn how to investigate a 2-year-old crime, overcoming the medical examiner’s initial determination.
Participants will learn the role of the MDT members and the importance of the forensic interview and medical partners throughout the investigative process.
.jpg "Maggie Sweeney photo")