Homeless mother's baby dies in foster care

By Kate Howard

Baby Cherokeewolf William Diedrich's life began on Nashville streets, born on the side of the road to a homeless mother.

It ended just 12 weeks later on Tuesday when life support was removed after a month spent in the hospital with a severe head injury. An autopsy is planned for today, and police are investigating his death as a homicide.

Cherokeewolf was taken from his mother, Kimberlee Diedrich, 35, two days after birth and put in state custody. Police said a passer-by spotted Diedrich in distress and brought her and the baby to the hospital.

Diedrich visited him at the foster home where he lived, and at the hospital at 2 months old when he was brought in with a severe head injury. The baby never regained consciousness.

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Police say his "home setting" is at the center of the investigation.

Earl and Cheryl Green, the foster parents, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. A phone number for their house was disconnected.

911 was called

Tennessee Department of Children's Services said the couple had completed mandatory training, a home visit and extensive interviews before Cherokeewolf was placed in their home.

On the night of Jan. 9, two months after his birth, Cherokeewolf was taken to the hospital by ambulance after his foster parents called 911 and said the child wasn't breathing. His life support was removed Tuesday after an order from Davidson County Juvenile Court.

Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said Diedrich, who is still homeless, saw the child in the hospital. He said he was unsure if the foster parents visited.

"After Jan. 9, that's a question for DCS," Aaron said.

He said the department isn't naming suspects but the investigation is focused on the child's home setting.

The Greens were interviewed early in the investigation, shortly after the child arrived at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. They've declined any follow-up interviews, Aaron said.

"What they've said thus far is part of the ongoing investigation," Aaron said.