GIST: "The murder trial resumed Saturday in the high-profile “Geauga’s Child” case with the defense bringing forward a witness who said there is not enough evidence to confirm the baby was born alive.
On Friday, the prosecution rested its case against Gail Ritchey, the woman arrested in 2019 for the alleged murder of her newborn son, according to to Geauga County Court of Common Pleas records.
**19 News will be providing gavel-to-gavel coverage of the “Geauga’s Child” trial**
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Much of the witness testimony has thus far centered around whether or not the child was born alive.
Defense lawyers argue the baby was stillborn, while the prosecution maintains he was born breathing.
The defense called only one witness before resting their case, a forensic pathologist who reviewed the baby’s autopsy and said there is not enough evidence to conclude a live birth took place.
“In this case, I don’t think you can get to that initial baseline or foundation to say it’s a live birth,” said Dr. Kent Harshbarger.
After the prosecution recalled their expert witness, Judge David Ondrey allowed the jury to leave and asked them to return Monday morning.
The jury will then hear closing arguments from both the defense and prosecution, ahead of verdict deliberations, the judge said.
In court on Friday, the prosecution played a police interrogation video showing Ritchey after her initial arrest where she said of the baby, “I don’t remember it making any noise.”
Court records show Ritchey is charged with murder and aggravated murder in connection to the decades-old crime, which authorities said was solved using DNA testing.
The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office said Ritchey confessed to giving birth to the baby, putting him in a plastic bag, and abandoning him in a wooded area in Thompson Township in March 1993.
The baby was found dead with its umbilical cord still attached by two newspaper delivery drivers in the middle of Sidley Road.
The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office said the baby was missing an arm and a leg, possibly mauled by animals and dragged into the road before the discovery.
Residents of Geauga County paid for a funeral and gravestone for the baby they called “Geauga’s Child.” Many still visit his grave to this day.
Authorities said Ritchey is currently married to the father of “Geauga’s Child” and has three adult children.
Ritchey hid the pregnancy from her family and the child’s father, according to the Geauga County sheriff, which is why nobody else is facing charges in connection to the murder.
Despite her confession to detectives, Ritchey pleaded not guilty during her initial arraignment.
Ritchey also admitted to detectives that she committed a similar crime two years prior to the birth of Geauga’s Child in Cuyahoga County. That case is still under investigation."
The entire story can be read at:
https://www.cleveland19.com/2019/10/01/trial-mom-geaugas-child-continued-january-9/
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. 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.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
