Jennifer Hancock: Illinois; Shaken baby syndrome case: Second part of 2-part Wisconsin State Journal series focuses on multiple explanations that have been offered by experts for the infant's death; Reporter Dee J. Hall and The Medill Justice Project; (Must Must Read. HL);

STORY: "Experts offer multiple explanations for infant's death," by reporter Dee J. Hall, published by the Wisconsin State Journal on May 19, 2014.  (This story was co-authored and reported by written and reported by  journalism students from Northwestern University's Medill Justice Project: Cameron Albert-Deitch, Callie Counsellor, Rebecca Friedman, Christian Holub, Katherine Mirani, Mark Olalde, Alexa Santos, Nicole Sampedro, Jaclyn Skurie and Kevin Trahan. The Medill Justice Project, founded in 1999, is an investigative journalism enterprise that examines potentially wrongful convictions, probes national systemic criminal justice issues and conducts groundbreaking research. The students were part of an investigative journalism class taught by Northwestern University Professor Alec Klein, director of The Medill Justice Project. Amanda Westrich, The Medill Justice Project’s research associate, also contributed to this report.)

SUB-HEADING:  "Medical experts reviewing evidence in the 2007 death of 4-month-old Lincoln Wilber disagree about what may have caused the infant to become unresponsive while in the care of his provider, Jennifer Hancock of Verona."

PHOTO CAPTION:  "Dr. George R. Nichols II, former chief medical examiner for the state of Kentucky, was once a supporter of the shaken baby syndrome diagnosis. He now questions the basis for the syndrome."

GIST: "Medical experts reviewing evidence in the 2007 death of 4-month-old Lincoln Wilber disagree about what may have caused the infant to become unresponsive while in the care of his provider, Jennifer Hancock of Verona. Four experts — including nationally known doctors who specialize in so-called shaken baby syndrome, also known as abusive head trauma — testified in Hancock’s 2009 trial that Lincoln died of abuse and Hancock was the only logical suspect. But new theories ranging from a heart virus to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) to a blood clot have emerged. In interviews with students reporting for The Medill Justice Project at Northwestern University, medical experts, including prominent forensic pathologists and abusive head trauma authorities, raised questions about the cause of Lincoln’s death — and whether it could be tied to the 5 ½ hours he spent in Hancock’s care......... Some experts, including Dr. George R. Nichols II, are skeptical. He likened the belief that children can be killed with no external trauma to a “religion” that leads some doctors to ignore medical information casting doubt on shaken baby syndrome or abusive head trauma as a cause of death. “When it becomes a religion, a belief system,” Nichols said, “it’s tough to overcome.” Nichols served 20 years as Kentucky’s chief medical examiner until 1997, during which he testified against defendants in shaken baby cases. Nichols had been picked to testify for the defense in the case against Hancock but ultimately did not, citing the boy’s leg fracture as possible evidence that someone had abused Lincoln. But at the request of The Medill Justice Project, he reviewed the medical images used at trial. Nichols concluded that the injuries to the boy could have occurred shortly before or after Lincoln was rushed to the hospital. But he said it was difficult to say exactly when those injuries occurred. Jurors don’t like to hear, “I don’t know,” Nichols said, but sometimes that’s the only appropriate answer."

The entire story can be found at:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/experts-offer-multiple-explanations-for-infant-s-death/article_42cb4dd2-f898-523e-a535-131bda969e85.html

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: 

Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.
 
I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located  near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site.

The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
 
http://smithforensic.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-charles-smith-award-presented-to_28.html
 
I look forward to hearing from readers at:

hlevy15@gmail.com.

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;