Jessica Li McClure
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public
1993 Aug 17
Jessica, adopted in China 6 months earlier, died of a fractured skull in 1993 at 10 months. She had 14 broken bones (hand, wrist, leg, upper arm, collar bone and three ribs) in the 2 months prior to her death. Her adoptive mother Julie McClure was charged with murder and manslaughter. A piece of wallboard from the home had a dent about the size of a baby's head with embedded human hairs. The defense contended that Jessica had brittle bone disease and the skull fracture was caused by a fall when the 10 month girl was standing on a chair. Her body was cremated before tests could be completed; no bone anomalies were noted during the autopsy.
Two separate grand juries indicted Julie before a Juvenile Court judge decided the verdict without a trial saying the state failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that McClure killed Jessica.
It is not clear if Jessica was abused, suffered from osteogenesis imperfecta, or if both items played a role in her death. Adoptive father Jim McClure was not charged.
Two separate grand juries indicted Julie before a Juvenile Court judge decided the verdict without a trial saying the state failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that McClure killed Jessica.
It is not clear if Jessica was abused, suffered from osteogenesis imperfecta, or if both items played a role in her death. Adoptive father Jim McClure was not charged.