Not guilty plea in death of toddler

Not guilty plea in death of toddler

December 17, 2004

Leslie Fulbright

San Fransisco Chronicle

A 57-year-old man accused of killing his 18-month-old adopted son pleaded not guilty to murder Thursday.

Charles Thomas McEntire appeared in Richmond court on charges of stabbing Charles Thomas McEntire III with a kitchen knife Nov. 22.

Police said he and his wife, Edrina Gibson, had been stressed out in the days before the crime. McEntire had recently lost his job and was no longer able to pay medical bills for Gibson, who has terminal cancer and recently lost her health insurance.

McEntire made the 911 call to police to report the crime and then waited for officers outside and then led them to the bedroom, police said. The boy had been stabbed several times.

Moved by Gibson's story, the Richmond Police Department established a fund to help pay for her health care. So far, $55,000 has been donated, said Richmond police Sgt. Mark Gagan.

McEntire remains jailed in Martinez in lieu of $1 million bail.