Murder defendant's police interview shown

Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)

Archer gives several different explanations for 3-year-old's death

Author: JESSICA L. ABERLE

HENNEPIN - Medical professionals and an investigator testified Wednesday to several different versions of murder defendant Matthew Archer's recollection of the events leading up to the death of his tiny 3-year-old foster daughter, known to family as "Bean."

Most compelling, however, were Archer's changing versions of the events of Oct. 24, 2003, acted out during a videotaped interview with Illinois State Police and played for Putnam County jurors Wednesday in the 28-year-old man's trial.

"I was rocking her in the living room, and the next thing I know I woke up, she was on the floor and I was on top of her," Archer told investigators Oct. 25, just before learning Jordan Cain died earlier that morning. "She was gasping for air."

Under continuing questioning, his story began to change.

Jurors watched the video intently during day two of Archer's trial on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery of a child.

In the video, Archer, rubbing his face and sometimes crying, at first said he fell asleep and likely dropped the girl before falling on top of her. Later, however, Archer said he wasn't really asleep and was frustrated the child wanted to sleep in bed with his girlfriend, now his wife.

"I was rocking her, and I couldn't keep my eyes open," Archer said.

"If she dies, I can't live," he said at one point. "I'm very sorry. I never meant to hurt her."

But investigators pressed, saying the injuries - multiple bruising and a torn major artery in the abdomen - were caused by more force than Archer described. After about an hour, Archer broke, saying he meant to toss the girl onto an ottoman, but she landed on the floor.

"Do you know is she going to make it?" he asked, now hours after the girl died in surgery at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

The detective said: "I'm going to tell you the truth. ... She died."

The news reduced Archer to sobs that afternoon. Wednesday he sat emotionless, speaking during brief breaks with his wife, Janice Archer, 24, who testified Wednesday.

She turned away when showed autopsy photos of Jordan - her sister's child - saying, "It don't even look like her."

She testified that Jordan, covered in violet purple bruises, was a clumsy child who refused to eat and weighed only 26 pounds when taken to St. Margaret's Medical Center in Spring Valley on the night in question. Her refusal to eat frustrated Matthew Archer, she said, but she never saw him hit her.

Medical professionals testified to the significant bruising on Jordan's jawline, around both eyes, on her upper arms, back, buttocks and thighs.

"I never beat her," jurors heard Archer say on the video.

Then minutes later: "I didn't hit her every time hard." And finally: "I did not beat her on a regular basis."

Family and friends in the courtroom sighed and gasped.

Testimony continues at 9 a.m. today.