Mother accused of microwaving baby to death

[Sarge]

Can we build a big microwave and stuff this woman in there?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15937773/from/RS.2/


DAYTON, Ohio - A mother was arrested on suspicion of murdering her newborn daughter by putting the baby in a microwave oven.

China Arnold, 26, was jailed Monday on a charge of aggravated murder, more than a year after she brought her dead month-old baby to a hospital. Bail was set Tuesday at $1 million.


“We have reason to believe, and we have some forensic evidence that is consistent with our belief, that a microwave oven was used in this death,” said Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County coroner’s office.


He said the evidence included high-heat internal injuries and the absence of external burn marks on the baby, Paris Talley.

Arnold was arrested soon after the baby’s death in August 2005, then was released while authorities investigated further. Betz said the case was difficult because “there is not a lot of scientific research and data on the effect of microwaves on human beings.”

The death was ruled a homicide caused by hyperthermia, or high body temperature. The absence of external burns ruled out an open flame, scalding water or a heating pad as the cause, Betz said.

Arnold’s lawyer, Jon Paul Rion, said his client had nothing to do with her child’s death and was stunned when investigators told her that a microwave might have been involved.

“China — as a mother and a person — was horrified that such an act could occur,” Rion said.

The night before the baby was taken to the hospital, Arnold and the child’s father went out for a short time and left Paris with a babysitter, Rion said. The mother didn’t sense anything out of the ordinary until the next morning, when the child was found unconscious, Rion said.

Arnold has three other children.

In 2000, a Virginia woman was sentenced to five years in prison for killing her month-old son in a microwave oven. Elizabeth Renee Otte claimed she had no memory of cramming her son in the microwave and turning on the appliance in 1999. Experts said that Otte suffered from epilepsy and that her seizures were followed by blackouts.

[rincewind]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

[Henry]

Some things you really don't need to share, Sarge.

[GibbsFactor]

I have nothing to say on this. I mean, c'mon.

We need to bring back public executions and have an eye for an eye type approach to them.

[WVUforREDSKINS]

Wow.


I heard a dead baby joke before that was like that.


That is just aweful. I hope Ohio has the death penalty.

[Sarge]

Some things you really don't need to share, Sarge.

It's a slow news day

[SkinsOrlando]

Wow.


I heard a dead baby joke before that was like that.


That is just aweful. I hope Ohio has the death penalty.

What glows in the dark(I know it too) and yes Ohio does have the death penalty unless they've revoked it in the past 4 years since I moved. Seems like the perfect case to get a good ol execution on.

[Teller]

Sadly, the precedent is set. She'll be judged incompetent to stand trial, sentenced to a mental hospital, and released in 5 years or so.

I hate this world sometimes.

[cjcdaman]

Ohio does have the death penalty. It needs to be used in this case.

[dreamingwolf]

It's a slow news day

I think it was your first quote about what you would do to her that he might be refering to.