Murder trial set to begin in 2004 toddler slaying case

By Ben Aguirre Jr.

Oakland Tribune

HAYWARD — Opening statements are set to begin today in the murder trial of a Fremont foster father charged with killing a 2-year-old boy in October 2004.

Terry Howard Corder, 45, faces charges of murder and assault on a young child causing death after 2-year-old Dylan James George was beaten to death while in the care of Corder and his wife, Sherrie, who at one time also faced similar charges.

Sherrie Corder, also 45, accepted a plea agreement in 2006 and will testify against her husband.

She has pleaded guilty to a charge of endangering a child and will be sentenced to four or six years in state prison.

Because of the time she already has served in jail, it is possible that she could be released immediately, prosecutors have said.

Attorneys selected a panel of jurors last week, and Deputy District Attorney Elgin Lowe said he expects to deliver his opening statement today at the Hayward Hall of Justice.

Terry Corder has been held at Santa Rita county jail in Dublin without bail since October 2004, when the couple was arrested days after Dylan died at Children's Hospital Oakland.

During the preliminary examination in 2005 in Fremont, testimony revealed that Terry Corder kicked and punched Dylan several times during a drunken tirade inside the couple's Fremont home.

After the incident, Dylan was given a bath and put to bed.

According to testimony, Sherrie Corder checked on Dylan throughout the night but called police in the morning when she noticed the toddler was blue in the face and not breathing.

Initially she tried to cover up for her husband and told police that Dylan fell in the bathtub the night before, police said. She rescinded that statement and told authorities her husband beat Dylan, police said.

The couple ran a day care business out of their home and were foster parents for many children.

They have three biological daughters, including a then-5-year-old who police say witnessed Dylan being beaten.

The girl testified during the preliminary examination, but it's not clear if she will testify during the trial.