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Updated: 7:00 PM Jan 14, 2009
UPDATE: Washburn Baby Death Trial
Investigators say that Alex Washburn died because his parents neglected him.
Posted: 8:34 PM Jan 8, 2009Reporter: Amanda Barren Email Address: Amanda.Barren@wsaz.com |
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31 Comments 
UPDATE Friday This afternoon, jurors will hear from another doctor that helped Elizabeth Thornton's son.
Friday they also saw pictures of the boys body. Investigators say those pictures reveal bruises, part of their case to show the boy was abused.
Doctors say had bruises on his forehead, arms, legs, and jawline.
A detective on the stand says that for 23 hours after the baby was admitted to the hospital they couldn't track down Thornton and the baby's father.
Monday, Jurors will hear from the West Virginia State Medical Examiner.
DAY 2: Thursday 1/8
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Was it autism, or abuse? Those are the two scenarios jurors are hearing in the case of a mother, accused of neglecting her child when he needed medical care.
Alex Washburn died from his injuries.
The defendant's mother and her best friend took the stand Thursday -- for the prosecution.
Elizabeth Thornton's best friend admitted she lied to investigators because her friend asked her to. But Thursday, she says she's being honest -- not testifying against her friend. She says she's simply telling the jury what happened back in May.
Thornton says her son fell and hit his head on the coffee table, bruising the little boy's head.
Thornton's mother says she would have helped if her daughter had asked.
"The next day I told her maybe he had a concussion, and maybe she should take him to the doctor," said Elizabeth Gurlock.
An officer says Thornton and the boy's father told him they were unable to take him to the doctor because they had no car, but Christina Carnell overheard a different story.
"They just wanted to take him to the doctor, but they didn't want to because he acted fine, but they were scared about the bruise," said Carnell.
This is a death that Elizabeth desperately tried to prevent, not one that she caused," said defense attorney George Castelle.
The defense says the boy showed signs of being autistic, which made him more apt to fall -- possibly explaining his head trauma.
"You will learn that Alex suffered from severe impacts to his head. You will hear that it is abuse that caused those," said assistant prosecutor Don Morris. "That is was not consistent with an accident."
The emergency room doctor took the stand late in the afternoon. She says in addition to the bruises on the little boys forehead, he had them all over his arms, legs, and his jawline.
The defense says those bruises could have been from resuscitation efforts. But, the doctor says what she observed wasn't a bruise that had happened just hours before her exam.
Prosecutors say they don't know who abused the boy, they just know his mother did not help him when she knew he needed it.
Thursday in court, the defendant's attorney said that Thornton will take the stand in her own defense.
DAY 1: Wednesday 1/7
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The trial began Wednesday in a case against two parents accused of neglecting their son to the point of death.
Investigators say that Alex Washburn died because his parents neglected him.
But now, both of his parents will stand trial alone. Kanawha County Judge Tod Kauffman granted a request for the co-defendants to go on trial separately.
31-year-old Christopher Washburn of Cross Lanes will go to trial April 20th. Meanwhile, jury selection started Wednesday afternoon in the case against Elizabeth Thornton.
Sheriff's Deputies say 22-month-old Alexander Washburn had injuries that needed immediate attention, but he wasn't taken to the hospital until five days later. By the time Alex got there, it was too late.
Investigators say Alex's brain hemorrhaged and he had bruises under his neck and chin.
Thornton told detectives that Alex fell and bumped his head on the coffee table, then hit his head on the toilet later that night.
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Latest Comments
GET THE FREAKING AGE RIGHT ON CHRISTOPER, HE WAS BORN IN 77 THAT WOULD NOT MAKE HIM 21... When I read this story I was realived to know it was not the Chris I grew up with.. A week later, It is!!! Now I am hearbroken for his baby, and CARE NOTHING for him.. WHY THE.. {OK.. calm down choose my words correctly, or WSAZ will not post} WHY DID YOU NOT TAKE YOUR BABY TO THE HOSPIAL CHRIS???? NO EXCUSE!!!!! I WILL PRAY THAT JESUS MAKES THIS UP TO YOUR BABY, AND GIVES YOUR CHILD SPECIAL TREATMENT, AND THE ATTENTION THAT BABY DESERVED, WHILE ON THIS EARTH, BUT DID NOT GET IT.. FROM YOU!!!!! EVEN IF YOU DID NOT DO IT, YOUR LAZINESS KILLED YOUR CHILD.. POT= NO MOTIVATION, LAZINESS,AND LOSERS SUCH AS YOURSELF!! GET A CLUE, I'LL PRAY ALSO WHEN YOU ARE CLEAN... YOU JUST MIGHT REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!! THAT BABY, MORE THAN LIKELY NOT AUSTIC.. IT WAS STONED FROM BREATHING YOUR FUMES..
i went to school with the mother and i couldnt beleive that she would do this to anyone...give her a chance
The parents should have took the child to the hospital right away. If they had no way, they should have asked a neighbor or called a ambilance.A few years ago, my daughter swung her swing into my son head, cutting him below his eye. they were both verry young. I missed work and took him to the doctor. The doctor thought it could be child abuse. At first i was verry mad that he would think that. but i had not considered that it happens more than you think.So,if you do not do something right away,there probly is something that is not right. Remember your kids should come first.
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