In Virginia, Community Raises Funds for Child's Tombstone | Shaken Baby Syndrome

*This is an excerpt from an article posted here*

Car Shows For Fun from Page county hosted a car show and auction for a tombstone for a child with shaken baby syndrome in Stanley Saturday night.

People from Page County participated in the car show, Chinese auction and cake wheel. Members of the community donated cakes and prices for the event.

Brandi Flick a mother of the child remembers her daughter before the accident.

"She was happy. She was a good baby. Much better than my first. She didn't cry or nothing. She was a good baby," Flick said.

The mother of two said a babysitter shook her five-month-old in February 2011. Her baby, Alyssa, was airlifted to the University of Virginia Hospital.

"It was hard. It was heartbreaking," she said.

Flick said Alyssa spent two months at the hospital. She said the baby had a feeding tube and seizures when she returned home.

"She should have been smiling, running and laughing but she couldn't do none of that," Flick said.

Alyssa died on July 5, 2012. This Saturday's fundraiser was aimed to help for a Stem Cell therapy. However, since she passed away it is now for a tombstone.

"It wouldn't have been the last gift I expected to give to her," Flick said.

Melissa Cubbage, a volunteer with Car Shows for Fun from Page County said they help neighbors struggling.

"The last thing they need to be worried about is oh my God how am I gonna pay for this. So the little bit we can do is to help to raise money since they're in our community. They're our family, they are our friends," she said.

Cubbage said they did not have a set goal for the fundraiser.

Flick said the tombstone costs about 10,000. They hope they could raise $3,500 dollars with the event.

Felicia Anderson from Stanley is one of the community members chipping in for the cause. She said she puts herself in Flick's shoes.

" It's absolutely a great cause. I couldn't imagine having to go through it. I'm a parent of a 2-year-old myself and i couldn't imagine being here without her," Anderson said.

As of 11 p.m. on Saturday organizers said they had raised $1,500 dollars.

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

In Virginia, Navy Sailor from Seymour, MO charged with murder in death of 4 month old | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A Virginia grand jury has reportedly indicted a navy sailor from the Ozarks on new charges in connection to the death of a four-month-old girl. 


Micah Patterson is now reportedly charged with second-degree murder and object sexual penetration in the death of his girlfriend's daughter, Aubrey Hannsz. Patterson, who was stationed near Virginia Beach, VA but grew up in Seymour, MO had already been charged with child abuse back in January and is being held without bond. 


An autopsy determined Hannsz reportedly died of abusive head trauma consistent with shaken-baby syndrome. The victim's mother testified she'd never seen Patterson abuse her daughter, but she said he often complained about the infant being "a pain." Patterson is scheduled to go on trial august 8th.


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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

In Virginia,York Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Neglect in Infant Death | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A York County woman reportedly pleaded guilty Thursday in York-Poquoson Circuit Court to one count of child abuse and neglect connected to the death of her infant son in November.

Sabrina A. Battad, 20, was initially charged with first-degree murder when she was arrested Nov. 18, but the charge was reduced to second-degree murder before it was finally reduced to child neglect.

At Thursday’s hearing, York-Poquoson Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Donna Maw said Battad told authorities she was home alone on the morning of Nov. 18 when her son, Curtis, became fussy. Battad said that when the baby refused to take milk, she bounced and patted the child on her lap until he fell asleep, then placed him in his crib. She told investigators the baby shook a little as she laid him down on his stomach, but she said that was normal. When she thought she heard a cry, she went to check on him and found her baby was not breathing.

After further investigation, authorities reportedly heard Battad was easily frustrated and handled her baby roughly. When questioned again, Battad said the baby was having a temper tantrum, and then began to cry as she told authorities she had shaken the baby. She said he cried loudly, his face turned red and she thought he might not be breathing, but she placed him in his crib. She estimated 10 to 15 minutes passed before she checked on him again, at which time she found he wasn’t breathing and called her mother for help. Her mother advised calling 911.

Maw reportedly said the amount of time Battad allowed to lapse between her first hint the baby wasn’t breathing and her call to 911 constituted child neglect. An autopsy performed by the medical examiner showed no signs of shaken baby syndrome, but a Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters pediatric expert wrote that minutes could have made a difference in saving the child’s life, and “a prudent parent would have called.”

Citing the tragic nature of the case, Judge Richard AtLee denied the defense’s request for bond. Battad will be sentenced Sept. 6.

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

In Virginia, Charges move forward in Va. Beach baby’s death | Shaken Baby Syndrome

In early January, Samantha Murawski and her 4-month-old baby girl reportedly moved into a Birdneck-area apartment with Murawski’s 22-year-old boyfriend.

Five days later, the baby girl was reportedly dead.

Police reportedly identified the infant as Aubrey Hannsz, and an autopsy determined she died of abusive head trauma consistent with shaken baby syndrome, prosecutor Philip C. Hollowell said during a hearing in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court his morning. The infant also had suffered trauma to her neck, chest, abdomen and anus, Hollowell said.

A few days later, police reportedly arrested Murawski’s boyfriend, Micah Patterson, on a charge of felony child abuse in Aubrey’s death. Judge Randall Blow today certified that charge to a Circuit Court grand jury, which will determine if there’s enough evidence to go to trial.

A grand jury earlier this month also reportedly indicted Patterson on charges of second-degree murder and object sexual penetration in Aubrey’s death. He’s scheduled for trial on those charges Aug. 8.

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

In Virginia, Former Helena Resident Apprehended for Child Abuse | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A former Helena resident reportedly faces felony child endangerment and child neglect charges for allegedly shaking a baby girl.

The girl's mother reportedly tells a local news station John Robert LaRue was extradited to Lynchburg, Virginia Wednesday.

Authorities apprehended LaRue in Pennsylvania after police stopped his vehicle for allegedly changing lanes without using a turn signal last week.

LaRue is reportedly accused of severely injuring then sixteen-month-old Juliana Thaxton while he was babysitting her in 2010.

An MRI revealed that Juliana reportedly suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome. Juliana’s mother Joleen tells ABC 5 Juliana is unable to walk, talk or see as a result of the trauma LaRue allegedly inflicted and eats from a feeding tube.

Joleen hasn't been able to reportedly come forward until now and says even though an arrest will do nothing for her daughter's future she says it’s her calling to make parents aware and protect children.

“John LaRue’s arrest does not heal Juliana and the punishment will never fit this type of heinous crime so we’re trying now to move on and not focus on Mr. LaRue anymore and now we can move forward and prevent this from happening to other children hopefully and let the system deal with him and hopefully hold him accountable for the things he has done,” says Juliana’s mother Joleen.

LaRue reportedly faces up to 30 years in prison. Thaxton wants to reach parents, pediatricians and the public so they are made aware of the symptoms of child abuse. 

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

In Virginia, Mom in court for baby's death | Shaken Baby Syndrome

Two years after a baby girl died in Virginia Beach, a mother charged with her death appears in court for a preliminary hearing.

Julie Calahan, 23, moved to Arkansas after police say her 11-month-old daughter La Keira died of shaken baby syndrome. 

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com