GUILTY NY - Garnett Spears, 5, dies of salt poisoning, Chestnut Ridge, 23 Jan 2014

[kimi_SFC]

Holy cow. And that is what was LEFT in the bag to TEST-- no telling how much was INFUSED into his g-tube before she disconnected it.



Argghh!! This baby was 10 weeks old!! 10 weeks!

I am SOOO glad the prosecutors tracked down the treating physicians from the episode when Garnett was only 10 weeks old. That took some dedication and legwork, to get the out of state records and track down the docs. Dedicated professionals, that team of 3 women! That may make all the difference for the jury to easily convict her.

And Valerie Plauche, the neighbor who got the feeding bag from the living room-- I hope that lady knows that she also may have made the difference between Lacey walking free and being convicted. But for her conscience and honesty, that bag of salt and tube feed formula may have never been found. Garnett may yet see some justice for all of the misery and abuse his mother delivered to him, IMO.

The article says the prosecution will rest tomorrow. I'd suspect the defense has a few days to a week's worth of testimony to put on their case.



http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/02/23/lacey-spears-trial-day-twelve/23879741/

Oh, I am so, so mad about that tube feed bag full of salt, and poor little baby Garnett-- who didn't have a feeding tube at 10 weeks of age. :banghead:

How long did it take Lacey to get him to drink dissolved salt that time? My opinion. The jury will soon render theirs.

Thank you K_Z for bringing this infuriatingly heartbreaking testimony to the thread. I am in complete agreement with every single word.

This documented episode of torture on Baby Garnett establishes that essentially his entire life was likely filled with a pattern of salt exposure - unseen until it was fatal. :moo:

What rips my heart from my chest is imagining his suffering at just 10 weeks old! Seriously, the vagabond lifestyle she led allowed her to get away with SO much, while she played the role online (and probably with Garnett). :furious:

I have no doubt he loved his "mom," the "woman" who he should have been able to trust the most to care for him. Instead, he lost his life at her hands in the most painful way possible - after many years of pain and suffering.

There really is no punishment severe enough to fit this crime. What LS deserves, she will never truly face - at least not in this life.

Garnett, I am SO sorry. Your sweet, precious life mattered. I hope that somehow, you're able to see how many are fighting for justice on your behalf, from your perch in Heaven.

:rose:


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[LinasK]

Holy cow. And that is what was LEFT in the bag to TEST-- no telling how much was INFUSED into his g-tube before she disconnected it.



Argghh!! This baby was 10 weeks old!! 10 weeks!

I am SOOO glad the prosecutors tracked down the treating physicians from the episode when Garnett was only 10 weeks old. That took some dedication and legwork, to get the out of state records and track down the docs. Dedicated professionals, that team of 3 women! That may make all the difference for the jury to easily convict her.

And Valerie Plauche, the neighbor who got the feeding bag from the living room-- I hope that lady knows that she also may have made the difference between Lacey walking free and being convicted. But for her conscience and honesty, that bag of salt and tube feed formula may have never been found. Garnett may yet see some justice for all of the misery and abuse his mother delivered to him, IMO.

The article says the prosecution will rest tomorrow. I'd suspect the defense has a few days to a week's worth of testimony to put on their case.



http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/02/23/lacey-spears-trial-day-twelve/23879741/

Oh, I am so, so mad about that tube feed bag full of salt, and poor little baby Garnett-- who didn't have a feeding tube at 10 weeks of age. :banghead:

How long did it take Lacey to get him to drink dissolved salt that time? My opinion. The jury will soon render theirs.

Actually K_Z, in one of the articles you previously posted, it said she got the feeding tube inserted at 1 month!!

From the above article: Garnett had surgery at 1 month old to correct what Spears told friends was acid reflux. A feeding tube was later inserted in his abdomen, allowing doctors, nurses — and Spears — to administer nutrients because, she said, he'd go days without eating and couldn't keep food down.


I call BS on this! My daughter was born with acid reflux, which she didn't outgrow, and it's been 13 years. First of all, we couldn't even get a diagnosis of GERD made on her until she was 10 mo. old, and had already had a Barium x-ray. Second, the treatment isn't a feeding tube! It's medication. You mix it in their applesauce.

 

[kimi_SFC]

Actually K_Z, in one of the articles you previously posted, it said she got the feeding tube inserted at 1 month!!

That's actually MORE damning IMO, because she could have potentially put it in his feeding tube at 10 weeks (if it had already been placed at 4 weeks/1month)

:banghead:


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[K_Z]

Actually, I remember from somewhere in the dusty depths of my mind, that Lacey claimed he had the feeding tube placed at 9 months of age.

Meanmaryjean could weigh in in this, but I highly doubt surgeons would put a permanent g-tube in a 4 week old that wasn't tremendously ill/ disabled. Four weeks seems very early to have a nissen, also, unless the child has a congenital condition like pyloric stenosis (and that's a completely different surgery, for pyloric stenosis).

I suppose we won't hear much about that part of his medical history, unless the defense case in chief spends a lot of time on that. And they probably will, because they have to paint Lacey as a devoted, doting mother, without much education, who was just doing what all these specialists told her to do with her sickly, disabled child. And she had to keep moving around, because she was just seeking the best and most holistic place for Garnett to heal and thrive, right? (Remember the homemade tube feed concoctions in the Lohud series of articles?)

I am kind of dreading the defense case in chief, because I just have a feeling that they will "have to" portray every medical professional that ever came into contact with Garnett as incompetent and sloppy. "It's not Lacey's fault Garnett got such poor care, no one could figure out what was wrong with him, Lacey was trying so hard, it's not her fault the specialists couldn't save him", etc.

I'm convinced she's 100% guilty as charged, and immensely hopeful the jury will see it that way, too. But I do realize she gets to put on her defense. And I hope it's a vigorous one, with no openings for an eventual conviction to be overturned on appeal.

ETA: To clarify, acid reflux surgery (a nissen fundoplication) would not include placing a permanent feeding tube in the abdomen.

 

[K_Z]

Lee Higgins @LeeHiggins
· 3m 3 minutes ago
Dr. Steven Kernie, who specializes in pediatric critical care, to testify for prosecution at #LaceySpears trial today. No testimony yet

Lee Higgins @LeeHiggins
· 50m 50 minutes ago
At #LaceySpears trial. Prosecution expects to rest today. Prosecutors should be calling medical expert and Deputy M.E

https://twitter.com/LeeHiggins

Westchester County Deputy Medical Examiner Alexander Milovanovic and another medical expert are expected to testify Tuesday as prosecutors wrap up their case against Lacey Spears, the Chestnut Ridge woman accused of poisoning her 5-year-old son to death with salt last year through his feeding tube.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/02/24/lacey-spears-trial-th-day/23926879/

 

[borndem]

Holy cow. And that is what was LEFT in the bag to TEST-- no telling how much was INFUSED into his g-tube before she disconnected it.



Argghh!! This baby was 10 weeks old!! 10 weeks!

I am SOOO glad the prosecutors tracked down the treating physicians from the episode when Garnett was only 10 weeks old. That took some dedication and legwork, to get the out of state records and track down the docs. Dedicated professionals, that team of 3 women! That may make all the difference for the jury to easily convict her.

And Valerie Plauche, the neighbor who got the feeding bag from the living room-- I hope that lady knows that she also may have made the difference between Lacey walking free and being convicted. But for her conscience and honesty, that bag of salt and tube feed formula may have never been found. Garnett may yet see some justice for all of the misery and abuse his mother delivered to him, IMO.

The article says the prosecution will rest tomorrow. I'd suspect the defense has a few days to a week's worth of testimony to put on their case.



http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/02/23/lacey-spears-trial-day-twelve/23879741/

Oh, I am so, so mad about that tube feed bag full of salt, and poor little baby Garnett-- who didn't have a feeding tube at 10 weeks of age. :banghead:

How long did it take Lacey to get him to drink dissolved salt that time? My opinion. The jury will soon render theirs.

Oh, this case is so difficult to follow because whenever evidence and testimony are given, we again have to imagine what hell this powerless baby and then trusting and still powerless little boy had to endure. Maybe it is good that he wasn't old enuff to figure out who was doing this slow-death-ritual to him.

One other thang:
This testimony about him getting sick at 10 m/old is very, very powerful -- I agree -- if any jurors felt like they had to consider the feeding bag obtained by the friend as weaker evidence because there was not a direct chain of evidence on it (like some intruder came in and put salt in the bag <choke>) then this earlier episode of the 10-m/old Garnett being so sick due to excess salt intake should bolster the evidence of the salty feeding bag. Yes, good, hard and solid work by the prosecution. Can there now be any doubt on any juror's mind?

 

[borndem]

Thank you K_Z for bringing this infuriatingly heartbreaking testimony to the thread. I am in complete agreement with every single word.

This documented episode of torture on Baby Garnett establishes that essentially his entire life was likely filled with a pattern of salt exposure - unseen until it was fatal. :moo:

What rips my heart from my chest is imagining his suffering at just 10 weeks old! Seriously, the vagabond lifestyle she led allowed her to get away with SO much, while she played the role online (and probably with Garnett). :furious:

I have no doubt he loved his "mom," the "woman" who he should have been able to trust the most to care for him. Instead, he lost his life at her hands in the most painful way possible - after many years of pain and suffering.

There really is no punishment severe enough to fit this crime. What LS deserves, she will never truly face - at least not in this life.

Garnett, I am SO sorry. Your sweet, precious life mattered. I hope that somehow, you're able to see how many are fighting for justice on your behalf, from your perch in Heaven.

:rose:


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Thanks button not enuff: Beautifully said and 100% correct.

Oh, what sorrow and anger we all have. Can the jurors feel anything else, as well? They are hearing and seeing it first-and and every minute. And yes, the DP would not even be enuff. The tuff stuff will come for her, I think, and it will last an eternity.

 

[K_Z]

Lee Higgins @LeeHiggins
· 1h 1 hour ago
If you gave an average child a teaspoon of salt by mouth "they would immediately spit it out," Kernie testifies #LaceySpears

Lee Higgins @LeeHiggins
· 1h 1 hour ago
The only way "you could really get salt into a 5-year-old kid" is "by forcing it into some kind of feeding tube," Kernie testifies

Lee Higgins @LeeHiggins
· 1h 1 hour ago
Dr. Kernie testifies there is no medical explanation for Garnett's surge in sodium at Nyack Hospital other than salt poisoning

https://twitter.com/LeeHiggins

 

[K_Z]

Garnett's sodium level spiked from 144 to 182 at Nyack Hospital over roughly four hours Jan. 19, 2014.

Kernie said Tuesday that he'd never seen a "sodium jump that high," through water loss, which commonly causes hypernatremia, and Garnett's three episodes of diarrhea couldn't have prompted the spike.

IV fluids, he testified, also could not have caused the increase.

He said Garnett died of complications of hypernatremia caused by salt poisoning.

Kernie also acknowledged having several pages of notes containing calculations, which prosecutors acknowledged had not been turned over to the defense.

Riebling said in court while jurors were not present that "it's incredibly prejudicial we are receiving these notes at this time."

He asked the doctor's testimony be stricken, pointing out that he asked the district attorney's office prior to trial whether Kernie had notes and prosecutors said they weren't sure, but would ask.

Judge Robert Neary decided to allow Riebling to meet with Kernie during a roughly two-hour period prior to court resuming, so Riebling could review the notes. Cross-examination of Kernie is expected to continue at 2 p.m.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/02/24/lacey-spears-trial-th-day/23926879/

 

[borndem]

Was an autopsy done? (Please excuse my ignorance, but I haven't caught up with the first several pages of this thread.) Has testimony presenting the autopsy report already been given? Or will it be a last blast from the prosecution?

 

[borndem]

No tweets that I can find... Anybody else? If it's the PTeam's last day, there should be a big punch, seems to me. Hope so. It's hard to be patient when I want to see this woman in a hot, hot frying pan. Grrrrr.

 

[Jmoose]

This case isn't funny, but I got a visual on what you wanted to do with this mother, and I started to laugh...I'm so immature

 

[borndem]

This case isn't funny, but I got a visual on what you wanted to do with this mother, and I started to laugh...I'm so immature

Well, Jmoose, I'll climb in the crib with ya -- you made me laff. We needed it, didn't we?!

Whew and Thanks! :laugh::hilarious:

 

[borndem]

Dan Barkin follows

Hoa Nguyen &#8207;@reporterhoa 43m43 minutes ago

#LaceySpears trial: Prosecution rests its case; Lacey might testify Wednesday afternoon http://lohud.us/1EMmpno via @lohud



Makes me go, "Hmmmm..."

 

[K_Z]

The prosecution rested its case in the murder trial of Lacey Spears Tuesday after doctors testified that there was no medical explanation for her 5-year-old son's spike in sodium levels other than salt poisoning.

Acting state Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary gave the defense until Wednesday morning to decide whether Spears will testify. If she does, she will take the stand at 2 p.m. If she does not, the trial will resume Thursday morning with closing arguments.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/02/24/lacey-spears-trial-th-day/23926879/

I'm a little confused about the closing arguments comment. Will the prosecution do closing arguments BEFORE the defense puts on their case in chief? Or is the defense not going to put on a case?? Anyone know? I'm used to seeing closing arguments done just before the case goes to the jury, with the prosecution going last.

 

[K_Z]

No tweets that I can find... Anybody else? If it's the PTeam's last day, there should be a big punch, seems to me. Hope so. It's hard to be patient when I want to see this woman in a hot, hot frying pan. Grrrrr.

This case isn't funny, but I got a visual on what you wanted to do with this mother, and I started to laugh...I'm so immature

Well, Jmoose, I'll climb in the crib with ya -- you made me laff. We needed it, didn't we?!

Whew and Thanks! :laugh::hilarious:

I have to wonder if someone in the jail or prison kitchen will be...ahem....*salting* inmate Spears' meal tray. Too bad she isn't in Sheriff Joe's jail-- he has taken away their salt, so no worries there.

"While we serve vegetarian meals that only cost us $1 a day to feed each inmate, I've taken away meat, salt and butter, to save the taxpayers money," Arpaio said in a news release. "So while they will get popcorn for this special event, they'll be eating it without salt or butter."

Read more: http://www.kpho.com/story/27978155/...s-to-get-popcorn-for-super-bowl#ixzz3SiECZG3d

 

[borndem]

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/02/24/lacey-spears-trial-th-day/23926879/

I'm a little confused about the closing arguments comment. Will the prosecution do closing arguments BEFORE the defense puts on their case in chief? Or is the defense not going to put on a case?? Anyone know? I'm used to seeing closing arguments done just before the case goes to the jury, with the prosecution going last.

Same here, KZ -- I read that & figured that the DT would not be putting on a case unless LS takes the stand. In my experience, the defendant usually takes the stand only in cases where the defense really doesn't have anything else to offer. And I can only assume that NY allows closing arguments as the last part of the trial just before the judge presents closing instructions to the jury, and then the jury retires to the jury room to decide a verdict. I've never seen it any other way.

A variation I do see is the order in which each side presents closing arguments, and in some states there are variations on that, depending on whether the defense puts on an argument. I guess we will find out tomorrow how it's gonna go.

Hmmmm...the mother of the year on the stand? SMH. Interesting to contemplate, huh?!

 

[K_Z]

Hoa Nguyen @reporterhoa
· 2h 2 hours ago
#laceyspears decides not to testify. Closing arguments are on for Thursday

https://twitter.com/reporterhoa

I doubted she would testify. Nothing good could come from that, and the cross examination would be brutal.

Lacey Spears will not testify in her murder trial Wednesday, which means closing arguments will begin Thursday morning, Judge Robert Neary said today.

The defense will begin summations at 9:30 a.m., Thursday.

The final prosecution witness was Dr. Aleksandar Milovanovic, Westchester County's deputy medical examiner, who determined the cause of death was hypernatremia due to the injection of sodium and eventually brain swelling. He choked up slightly as he explained that the autopsy was delayed until Jan. 25 so that Garnett's major organs &#8212; including his heart, liver, kidneys and spleen &#8212; could be donated.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/02/25/lacey-spears-trial-defense/23983261/

That gives me some small comfort, knowing some other unfortunate children were helped with Garnett's gifts.

 

[K_Z]

Holy cow! The defense really is not putting on a case in chief at all! I'm astonished. I have never heard of a trial like that! Not a single witness will be called by the defense. Has anyone ever heard of another case like this?

But now I'm really worried that she will have all kinds of grounds for appeal.

Just stunning. I absolutely never considered that the defense wouldn't be able to find experts and put on a case.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/02/25/lacey-spears-trial-defense/23983261/

After more than three weeks of testimony from about two dozen witnesses, Lacey Spears' murder trial will conclude without the defense calling a single person to the stand.

"I'm surprised," said Bennett Gershman, a Pace University law professor and attorney. "In a case where you have experts, you are often expecting to see experts countering the other side's expert. In this case, it's not a battle of experts — it's one-sided."

Defense lawyers likely will address why they didn't call any witnesses.

"The defense will argue that, 'We didn't have to call experts because we didn't need to. The reasonable doubt was right there,' " said Gershman, who called the tactic risky.

"They're throwing the dice; they are gambling."

Other criminal law observers said the tactic might be the defense's only choice.

"Maybe they feel that they didn't have an expert who could sustain cross-examination," said Dan Schorr, a former Westchester prosecutor and now associate managing director of Kroll, a consulting firm.

But on the plus side, Judge Neary ruled long ago that closing arguments and the verdict could be videotaped and broadcast. So we will get to hear something later today. Hopefully more than the 2-3 min snippets of the opening statements.

Looks like Lohud reporter Lee Higgins will be there today.

Lee Higgins @LeeHiggins
· 18m 18 minutes ago
Closing arguments at 9:30 a.m. today in #LaceySpears trial

https://twitter.com/LeeHiggins

 

[K_Z]

For what it's worth, I emailed reporter Lee Higgins and expressed thanks for his reporting and tweeting. I also asked if he would lobby his supervisors to post the entire closing arguments of both defense and prosecution on their site later today, and not just the 2-3 min snippets, like the opening arguments of the prosecution.

I will send a note of thanks to reporter Hoa Ngyuen later, too.