exposing the dark side of adoption
Register Log in

Trial of Mansfield woman accused of causing baby’s death continues

public

by: Caitlin M. Dineen

A Hartford pathologist testified Thursday that bilateral hemorrhages are typically found in children who have endured an “inflicted trauma.”

Dr. Dean Uphoff told prosecutors, the defense and Judge William Bright that he was surprised by the extent of damage he saw to 7-month-old Michael Brown Jr. during his microscopic examinations of the infant’s brain and eyes. “They were remarkably extensive,” said Uphoff, adding he had not seen that much retinal hemorrhaging in an infant before.

Brown Jr. was in the care of former Department of Children and Families employee and Mansfield resident Suzanne Listro when he died in 2008.

Thursday [March 4] was the fifth day of a scheduled 10-day trial in Rockville Superior Court against the 43-year-old Listro, of 260 Stearns Road, Mansfield. All trial proceedings are taking place in Rockville Superior Court.

The baby Brown was in Listro’s care for a week when, according to Listro’s statement to police, he “fell off the bed” and died May 19, 2008.

Police testimony earlier in the week detailed Brown’s reported fall would have been 2 feet, 2 inches in distance, not enough to cause the scope of the fatal injuries.

According to the office of the state’s chief medical examiner, Brown Jr. died from a “blunt traumatic head injury.”

Prior to Thursday’s testimony, Dr. Paul Kanev, director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, told prosecutors Brown Jr.’s death was “non-accidental.”

Listro was charged July 16, 2008, with first-degree manslaughter and risk of injury to a minor for the death of Brown Jr. and pleaded not guilty in December.

During Thursday’s testimony, Michael Brown Sr., the infant’s father, left court several times, crying when Uphoff was detailing the amount of blood and injury Brown Jr. sustained during the May 2008 incident.

During cross-examination, Hartford attorney Hope Seeley, Listro’s counsel, tried several times to discredit Uphoff as a witness by highlighting that Uphoff has not read every scholarly article about shaken baby syndrome.

Seeley told the court Thursday there is dissent in the medical field indicating that shaking a baby alone cannot cause enough force to cause subdural hematomas, such as the one Brown Jr. sustained.

Uphoff said he was “impressed” by the amount of articles Seeley had been “fed” regarding what he called the “minority” viewpoint in the medical field.

In addition to bilateral retinal hemorrhaging, Uphoff said one of Brown Jr.’s retinas was completely detached.

When asked by Assistant State Attorney Elizabeth Leaming the significance of a detached retina, Uphoff said it is indicative of “significant trauma.”

“Retinas don’t spontaneously detach in infants,” he said.

Once Uphoff had completed his testimony, DCF employee William Seals took the stand.

Seals was the employee sent to take Brown Jr. from his East Hartford residence May 9 after three anonymous phone calls raised concern for the child’s well-being.

According to Seals, Brown Jr. appeared to be “well taken care of” in his residence and was a “joyful” baby.

Seals said Brown Jr. was placed in a temporary foster home for the weekend before he was placed in Listro’s care May 12.

He said nothing occurred during the week Brown Jr. was in Listro’s care and indicated there was nothing wrong with the child or his placement location.

Testimony for the prosecution will continue in Rockville Superior Court Monday, March 8. It is unclear if Seals would retake the stand at that time.

2010 Mar 8