Baby's death investigated as homicide, Coakley says
Infant is taken off life support
By Patricia Wen and Jenna Russell, Globe Staff | December 23, 2006
Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley has launched a homicide investigation into the death of a 2-month-old Dracut boy, an alleged victim of shaken baby syndrome who was taken off life support yesterday afternoon.
Liam Garvey of Dracut had severe brain injury, as well as skeletal fractures, because of "inflicted physical abuse," Coakley said.
The boy came to the attention of police Monday morning after they received a 911 call from Jamaal Williams, the mother's boyfriend, who is also believed to be the boy's father. The baby's maternal grandmother was also there when the call was made, but his mother, Sarah Garvey, was not at home, Dracut police said.
Dracut police said Williams reported that the baby was choking. Doctors at Lowell General Hospital, where the baby was first taken, found the baby to be in respiratory distress, and by Thursday he was declared brain dead at Floating Hospital at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston.
Yesterday, doctors performed surgery to harvest the baby's organs for transplantation, said Coakley. At the time, life support was withdrawn and Liam's death was officially announced by authorities.
"So this is officially a homicide investigation into the cause of death of Liam Garvey," Coakley said at a press conference with officials from the Dracut police.
Dracut Police Chief Kevin Richardson said everyone involved in his department has been devastated by the outcome.
"In a situation like this, when you have young babies involved, it's very, very difficult," he said.
The boy's twin sister, Paige, had similar but less severe injuries, police said. Police took her from the family's home Monday after doctors, alarmed by the boy's injuries, said they wanted to examine her.
Doctors found that she had skeletal injuries to her ribs, arms, and legs, which were consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
She is under observation at a foster home with medical expertise and is expected to recover from her injuries, said Coakley and officials from the state Department of Social Services.
More at link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/12/23/babys_death_investigated_as_homicide_coakley_says/
Infant is taken off life support
By Patricia Wen and Jenna Russell, Globe Staff | December 23, 2006
Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley has launched a homicide investigation into the death of a 2-month-old Dracut boy, an alleged victim of shaken baby syndrome who was taken off life support yesterday afternoon.
Liam Garvey of Dracut had severe brain injury, as well as skeletal fractures, because of "inflicted physical abuse," Coakley said.
The boy came to the attention of police Monday morning after they received a 911 call from Jamaal Williams, the mother's boyfriend, who is also believed to be the boy's father. The baby's maternal grandmother was also there when the call was made, but his mother, Sarah Garvey, was not at home, Dracut police said.
Dracut police said Williams reported that the baby was choking. Doctors at Lowell General Hospital, where the baby was first taken, found the baby to be in respiratory distress, and by Thursday he was declared brain dead at Floating Hospital at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston.
Yesterday, doctors performed surgery to harvest the baby's organs for transplantation, said Coakley. At the time, life support was withdrawn and Liam's death was officially announced by authorities.
"So this is officially a homicide investigation into the cause of death of Liam Garvey," Coakley said at a press conference with officials from the Dracut police.
Dracut Police Chief Kevin Richardson said everyone involved in his department has been devastated by the outcome.
"In a situation like this, when you have young babies involved, it's very, very difficult," he said.
The boy's twin sister, Paige, had similar but less severe injuries, police said. Police took her from the family's home Monday after doctors, alarmed by the boy's injuries, said they wanted to examine her.
Doctors found that she had skeletal injuries to her ribs, arms, and legs, which were consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
She is under observation at a foster home with medical expertise and is expected to recover from her injuries, said Coakley and officials from the state Department of Social Services.
More at link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/12/23/babys_death_investigated_as_homicide_coakley_says/
I'd like two minutes alone with the abuser....
