Tuesday, May 29, 2012

In Ohio, Annual Awareness Ride, Poker Run and Cruise | Shaken Baby Syndrome

We have an exciting event to share with all of you! The Shaken Baby Syndrome of Ohio team is working with .A.R.M. Chapter #69 for the Awareness Ride and Poker Run August 4th, 2012 in Bowling Green Ohio! Check out the awesome banner below for all the information and be sure to sign up today if you are in the area!


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 Kansas, Olathe Dad Gets 10 Years for Baby’s Death | Shaken Baby Syndrome


Prosecutors reportedly call the January 2011 death of three-week-old Logan Snyder a clear case of Shaken Baby Syndrome.  On Monday, the baby’s father, 26-year-old Aaron Snyder was sentenced to 10-years and three months after pleading no contest to the death of his infant son.  The charge was reckless second degree murder.
Snyder’s attorney Paul Cramm reportedly says his client was innocent but decided to accept the plea deal because of his 5-year-old son Lucas.
“Aaron’s primary concern was just the risk of time away from his older boy Lucas,” Cramm said.
Snyder was facing life in prison if convicted of 1st degree murder  Under the plea deal, he could be free in seven years when his son turns 12.  It was a plea deal Snyder’s own attorney and parents told him not to take.  Defense attorney Paul Cramm says little Logan had a pre-existing brain injury from a complicated birth.
“He has a birth fracture from compression in the birth canal three weeks earlier,” Cramm said.
Defense experts reportedly say the baby had bleeding on the brain that began well before the day of his death.   But Assistant District Attorney Chris McMullin tells FOX 4 that Snyder told his own wife he shook the baby and the autopsy results reached the same conclusion.
“The injuries were consistent with shaking as the mechanism for causing the injuries,” McMullin said
Snyder’s wife Anna Grover appeared to reportedly believe in her husband’s innocence.  She asked the judge at sentencing to lift his “No contact order” so that she could hug Snyder before he was taken away to prison.  The judge granted the request.
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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


Friday, May 25, 2012

In Florida, Mother describes son's brain damage | Shaken Baby Syndrome


Leann Rodriguez reportedly found the strength Wednesday to calmly tell jurors about finding her baby nearly four years ago with limp limbs, gasping for air in the lap of his father.
But her 911 call on Sept. 30, 2008, reportedly revealed the horror of giving her then-2-month-old son, Lukuz, CPR in a desperate attempt to get him breathing. Prosecutors played Rodriguez's call as part of an effort to prove Jonathan Gelb had earlier shaken his son, causing his brain to bleed and breaking bones in his leg.
Reportedly left with serious brain damage, Lukuz, now 3, cannot see, eat without a tube, walk or talk. Gelb, 28, is reportedly on trial this week on a charge of aggravated child abuse. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison. The trial is expected to last two more days.
To Read More on this Story: Click Here
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

Thursday, May 24, 2012

In Ohio, Jury Finds Man Guilty in Death of Girlfriend's Baby | Shaken Baby Syndrome

A 27-year old south Fairmount man, whose nickname is "Life," was reportedly spared the death penalty today by a Hamilton County jury.  However, Loinell Dangerfield was still found guilty of murdering his girlfriend's three month old baby.

Local 12 News reporter Jeff Hirsh was reportedly at the courthouse when the verdict came in.  It only took the jury five and a half hours over two days to find Dangerfield not guilty of aggravated murder, but guilty of murder in the beating death of 3-month-old Zhimera Binford.

Dangerfield reportedly never took the witness stand. In fact, the defense called no witnesses at all. But, after the verdict, when given the chance to make a statement, Dangerfield was unapologetic, insisting he was convicted based on "false facts." Dangerfield says, "I refuse to apologize for something I didn't do."

But, Judge Ralph Winkler said he agreed with the jury.  Winkler says, "I was here for the whole trial. The evidence of his guilt on the murder and the felonious assault was overwhelming."

The prosecution literally pounded home the reported brutal nature of Binford's death, blunt force trauma, mentioned in both opening statements and closing arguments. Assistant Prosecutor Katie Pridemore says, "He lacerated her liver. He fractured her skull, and he beat her at least six times on a hard surface over and over and over again, until that baby ended up dying."

Assistant Prosecutor Katie Burroughs reportedly says, "Everybody has embedded in their mind the concept of shaken baby syndrome, and what we were trying to show to them, that as so much more than just shaken baby syndrome, the classic terminology of shaking your child."



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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 Florida, Pasco shaken baby trial begins with mother testifying against the child's father | Shaken Baby Syndrome


Even before baby Lukuz Gelb was born, his mother already reportedly nicknamed him Lucky.  She says he was the perfect little boy. 

But in September 2008, when Lukuz was just two months old, Leann Rodriguez reportedly came home to where she lived in Port Richey and found her son wasn't breathing.  Doctors told her the boy had severe brain injuries and broken bones in his legs.  

"Worst case of shaken baby syndrome that they've seen in the state of Florida," Rodriguez was told. 

Authorities reportedly soon arrested the man they say is responsible for hurting Lukuz.  It wasn't a baby sitter or daycare worker --but the boy's own father, Jonathan Gelb.
Wednesday morning at the Pasco County courthouse in New Port Richey, testimony began in Gelb's trial.  He is reportedly charged with aggravated child abuse.
The child was in the courtroom, but he was taken home before the trial started. It's likely the jury will not see him in person.

To Read More on this Story: Click Here



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. 

To Read More on this Story: Click Here

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 Kansas, Wichita baby hospitalized, shaken baby syndrome suspected | Shaken Baby Syndrome


A 4-month-old Wichita baby is reportedly in the hospital with bleeding on the brain.  Authorities say the injuries are consistent with shaken baby syndrome.  The baby is in serious but stable condition.
Lt. Jeff Weible with the Exploited and Missing Children's Unit reportedly says the case is under investigation.  He says the baby was taken to the hospital Sunday morning.  He says the parents reported the baby had fallen off of a bed.  During the examination, doctors found brain bleeding consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
The parents were reportedly taken in for questioning and the baby was taken into protective custody. No arrests have been made.
To Read More on this Story: Click Here
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