Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The jury in a trial for a Mentone man who allegedly battered an infant started its deliberations during the late afternoon hours Wednesday.
Kaiden Eugene Meade, 21, of 506 N. Broadway St., Mentone, is charged with domestic battery to a person less than 14 years of age resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 3 felony.
More Evidence
Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Sobek continued the state's case with testimony from two additional witnesses.
Dr. Anne Krafsig, an ophthalmologist, was asked to complete an examination on the child by a hospital team in Fort Wayne. In her testimony, Krafsig said she did not notice any outward physical injuries around the child's eyes but there were hemorrhages "too numerous to count" in both of the child's eyes.
She noted the hemorrhages had occurred to all three layers of the child's eyes, which she said was similar to cases of shaken baby syndrome. Krafsig told the jury in order to have that number of hemorrhages, it would require a "vigorous, repetitive, back-and-forth movement."
When asked if it was possible an individual tripping over a baby gate while holding the child or the child suffering a single strike to the head would cause hemorrhages, Krafsig said it was very unlikely.
Krafsig testified the child's injuries were "highly suggestive of non-accidental trauma" and that the injuries in this case were similar to ones she's seen in fatal incidents.
In cross-examination, defense attorney Jay Rigdon asked Krafsig if the knowledge of an impact to the child's head would change her opinion on the child's injuries. Krafsig said it would not. She also said she did not complete an examination on the child prior to being informed their injuries had been allegedly caused in an intentional manner.
Rigdon questioned Krafsig on any disorders that could have played a role in this case, such as hemophilia or collagen disorders. Krafsig said no testing occurred for those disorders.
Through additional examination by both Rigdon and Sobek, Krafsig said hemophilia was a very rare condition and she guards against false positives in cases by clearly documenting what she sees.
Dr. Ann Freshour, a practicing child abuse pediatrician at Riley Children's Health, testified about a medical evaluation she completed on the infant on March 16, 2023. She estimated about 40% of the cases she's completed result in finding signs of abuse.
Prior to her evaluation, Freshour said she asked Meade and others in the home about the child's medical history. She said Meade told her he was attempting to walk over a baby gate when he dropped the child but caught them before they hit the floor.
CT scans of the infant's head were presented as evidence in court. Freshour said she was concerned about the scans, which depicted a subdural hematoma, describing that as a "significant traumatic brain injury." She testified a subdural hematoma could put pressure on the brain, resulting in seizures or an altered mental status. Long-term, Freshour said the injury could result in ADHD, behavioral problems or vision loss.
When asked if the infant's injuries were consistent with a force to the back of the head or a fall, Freshour said they were not. She said an undiagnosed bleeding problem was considered, but all the child's testing in that regard was normal.
In cross-examination, Rigdon asked Freshour where a CT scan would show an impact to the child's head. She said a scan would show soft tissue swelling or bruising, and an accidental impact would typically show up on a scan at the site of the impact.
Rigdon also presented Freshour with an article from a medical magazine, which stated about 14% of cases such as what occurred to the child are misdiagnosed as non-accidental trauma. Upon reviewing the article, Freshour said with that specific study, that was true. She also said it was possible the retinal hemorrhages the child suffered were not suggestive of head trauma.
After Freshour's testimony, Sobek rested the state's case.
No evidence was presented on behalf of the defense, and Meade did not testify.
Closing Arguments
In closing arguments, Sobek said the infant was "teething, fussy and didn't sleep through the night" on the day of the incident. He told the jury Meade was the one who was holding the baby when the injuries occurred.
"A more repetitive force is required to cause the hemorrhages, the subdural hematoma," said Sobek. "And they didn't hit anything with force because it would have been seen externally. He knowingly did this because it just wouldn't stop."
Rigdon focused his closing argument on suspected abuse playing a role in every professional witness's evaluation of the child, telling the jury there was "absolutely no evidence" of abuse. He recalled testimony from two witnesses who were at the home with Meade at the time, with both noting the environment was calm and there were no issues with the baby.
He also said people typically at fault for a crime deflect their actions, but noted Meade did not minimize what occurred and said he tripped and fell while he was holding the baby.
"To find Kaiden not guilty, you have to believe all those (personnel) folks who testified were lying," said Rigdon.
Rigdon also questioned pictures that were submitted into evidence by the state, including a picture of a lump above the infant's eye and old injuries on Meade's hand. He said the doctors didn't even note the child's external injury and argued the state was trying to imply Meade hit the child at some point since he had injuries on his hand.
"They failed in this case," said Rigdon. "We never would have seen that picture otherwise."
In his final statement, Sobek said several of the emergency responders who testified told the jury they were called for either an EMS assist or a sick/injured person, not an abuse call.
"Nobody said (the child's) head hit anything," said Sobek. "It's pure speculation. There's a pattern of injuries, a constellation of injuries, and you have to look at the entire picture."
