GA - Infant, 18 days old, ingests automotive antifreeze, Fulton County, 12 Oct 2020 *dad arrested*

[JerseyGirl]

On October 12 officers were notified of an 18-day-old infant who tested positive for ethylene glycol, an automotive antifreeze chemical, at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta-Scotish Rite.

An investigation uncovered the father, Curtis Jackson, 45, as a suspect. Police immediately obtained warrants for his arrest on criminal attempt to commit murder and cruelty to children in the first degree.

Police arrest father after infant is poisoned with antifreeze

 

[meanmaryjean]

I........he?.........eighteen DAYS?

 

[oviedo]

How did they know to even test for this?

 

[Peppery]

I assume routine blood tests showed impaired kidney function and imbalances in acid/base balance, then during further tests they found crystals in the kidneys. That would be unusual in a newborn and would trigger the request for tests for unusual substances in the blood that cause crystals.


ATSDR - Public Health Statement: Ethylene Glycol

When ethylene glycol breaks down in the body, it forms chemicals that crystallize, and the crystals can collect in your kidneys and affect kidney function.

Ethylene glycol also forms acidic chemicals in the body, which can change the body's acid/base balance and affect your nervous system, lungs, and heart.

 

[meanmaryjean]

Here's the thing- they must have had some type of information from someone- because the volume of blood you can get for testing from a newborn is not a lot to begin with to be running an exhaustive battery of tests.

Metabolic acidosis (which one would expect to find) CAN have a number of causes due to inborn (genetic) errors of metabolism (this is the prime age of some of these to manifest themselves), as well as cold stress (unlikely at that age) polycystic kidneys, dehydration, renal tubule acidosis, congenital heart defects.

So how they even THOUGHT to test for ethylene glycol is- I think -dependent on a confession or other outside information.

 

[Marg from Oz]

What!! I thought I had heard everything but theses fiends keep coming up with something knew. I'm sure he thought he was so smart and no one would figure what killed his son. At the age of 45 he is old enough to know what contraception is. MOO

 

[oviedo]

Here's the thing- they must have had some type of information from someone- because the volume of blood you can get for testing from a newborn is not a lot to begin with to be running an exhaustive battery of tests.

Metabolic acidosis (which one would expect to find) CAN have a number of causes due to inborn (genetic) errors of metabolism (this is the prime age of some of these to manifest themselves), as well as cold stress (unlikely at that age) polycystic kidneys, dehydration, renal tubule acidosis, congenital heart defects.

So how they even THOUGHT to test for ethylene glycol is- I think -dependent on a confession or other outside information.

Thank you for this important insight - I've followed a number of cases of antifreeze poisoning and it has not been the first thing checked and so the person suffers terribly - I suspect we will hear more about this situation IMO.

 

[borndem]

How did they know to even test for this?

My question exactly -- ethylene glycol is not the first chemical that would be included in a routine test -- especially on an 18 m/o infant. Smart doctors.
As @Peppery said above, maybe they noticed problems with the baby's kidneys.
I guess that poor baby was crying a bit too much or too loudly -- it seems to really aggravate some people, doesn't it? Oh, what abject cruelty. Grrrrrr.

 

[Teche]

Wasn’t there another case where a mother was charged and convicted of murder due to glycol crystals found in her child’s toxicology reports. When her second child had same condition/diagnosis but didn’t succumb, doctors looked at medical conditions that was caused by a genetic problem? I’m sure the medical team ruled this out.
How sad for this infant.

 

[SandyQLS]

Wasn’t there another case where a mother was charged and convicted of murder due to glycol crystals found in her child’s toxicology reports. When her second child had same condition/diagnosis but didn’t succumb, doctors looked at medical conditions that was caused by a genetic problem? I’m sure the medical team ruled this out.
How sad for this infant.

You have a great memory:

Patricia Stallings - Wikipedia

"Patricia Stallings ... is an American woman who was wrongfully convicted of murder after the death of her son Ryan on September 7, 1989. Because testing seemed to indicate an elevated level of ethylene glycol in Ryan's blood, authorities suspected antifreeze poisoning and they arrested Patricia Stallings the next day. She was convicted of murder in early 1991 and sentenced to life in prison.

Stallings gave birth to another child while incarcerated awaiting trial; he was diagnosed with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), a rare genetic disorder that can mimic antifreeze poisoning. ..."

Per article, Ryan was born in April, very sick and hospitalized in July, died in September without the doctors ever correctly diagnosing him.

 

[borndem]

Here's the thing- they must have had some type of information from someone- because the volume of blood you can get for testing from a newborn is not a lot to begin with to be running an exhaustive battery of tests.
>>>> respectfully snipped by borndem <<<<

Thanks much for the helpful info and insight on this, @meanmaryjean! It's so good to have professional explanations on matters such as this.

 

[Teche]

You have a great memory:

Patricia Stallings - Wikipedia

"Patricia Stallings ... is an American woman who was wrongfully convicted of murder after the death of her son Ryan on September 7, 1989. Because testing seemed to indicate an elevated level of ethylene glycol in Ryan's blood, authorities suspected antifreeze poisoning and they arrested Patricia Stallings the next day. She was convicted of murder in early 1991 and sentenced to life in prison.

Stallings gave birth to another child while incarcerated awaiting trial; he was diagnosed with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), a rare genetic disorder that can mimic antifreeze poisoning. ..."

Per article, Ryan was born in April, very sick and hospitalized in July, died in September without the doctors ever correctly diagnosing him.

Thank you! I just couldn’t remember her name.

 

[Laughing]

Thank you! I just couldn’t remember her name.

Me, neither, but remembered that metabolic disorder.

Expect the experts are checking for that.

Hope the baby can recover!

 

[meanmaryjean]

Eighteen days would be unbelievably early to be diagnosed with MMA. Typical presentation is in the middle of the first year of life.

And even making a genetic diagnosis of this type (MMA) takes testing that has more than an 18-day turnaround time on the labs.

Time will tell I suppose.