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Salem infant who died was often abused, coroner says
By D.A. WILKINSON
SALEM
The autopsy report on a 7-month-old boy reveals a pattern of abuse.
On Tuesday, Columbiana County Coroner Dr. William Graham Jr. declared the death of Derek A. Dennison a homicide.
Dr. Graham said an autopsy performed at the Cuyahoga County coroner’s office revealed the infant had skull fractures and broken ribs indicating “there was a period of two weeks that the boy was mistreated.”
The last blows were on the day of the infant’s death, he said.
Tim McNicol, an assistant county prosecutor, and Dr. Graham agreed there were no injuries that could have occurred naturally to a child that age.
“The injuries were extensive,” said Salem Police Detective David Talbert. “Some ribs had healed and been re-broken.”
Dr. Graham said that a break in the child’s rib cage punctured a liner around the infant’s liver and resulted in internal bleeding.
The Cuyahoga County autopsy states that there were fractures to the bones that form the side and the roof of the cranium.
Dr. Graham said he has not yet totaled the number of injuries to the infant.
Because Columbiana County has no forensic pathologist to perform autopsies, it contracts with the Cuyahoga County coroner for autopsy services.
Talbert called the boy’s death “a sickening crime. ... It’s the worst I’ve ever been involved with.”
Talbert continues to investigate the death of Derek, who died at Salem Community Hospital’s emergency room about 12:38 a.m. July 23.
Derek had been taken to the hospital by his mother, Miranda Todd of North Ellsworth Avenue.
Efforts to revive the child failed.
No charges have been filed in the case, but McNicol, who handles crimes against children, said Thursday he expects “an arrest soon.”
“The investigation remains very active,” he added.
Authorities said a woman and a man were in the mother’s apartment before the boy was taken to the hospital, but they have not released information about them.