LAKEVILLE WOMAN CHARGED IN ADOPTED CHILD'S DEATH

10-MONTH-OLD GIRL HAD MANY INJURIES

Author: BYLINE: Bill Gardner, Staff Writer

A 33-year-old Lakeville woman has been indicted by the Dakota County Grand Jury on murder charges in connection with the death last year of her 10-month-old adopted daughter, who had suffered 14 broken bones in a two-month period.

Julie McClure was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for allegedly abusing Jessica Li McClure over a period of time before the child died of a skull fracture on Aug. 17, 1993.

Dakota County District Judge Leslie Metzen set bail at $50,000, and McClure was released after posting the required amount.

McClure called Lakeville police on Aug. 15, 1993, and said the child had fallen while standing at a kitchen chair. When investigators told McClure that the injuries were inconsistent with such a fall, the woman said the child actually had fallen twice that day, once from a kitchen counter. McClure told police the child's father played with her after the first fall.

A report by Dr. Judd Reaney of Minneapolis Children's Medical Center said it was medically impossible for the child to sustain such injuries in a fall and then be able to play with her father.

``The nature of these injuries was catastrophic and likely resulted in immediate loss of consciousness and coma,'' Reaney's report said.

In addition, Reaney's examination disclosed the child had suffered 14 broken bones in the previous two months, including a broken collar bone, three broken ribs and fractures of bones in the hand, wrist, leg and upper arm.

``The presence of multiple fractures in many parts of the body that are older and healing shows a pattern on ongoing child abuse,'' Reaney's report said.

The child died two days after the skull fracture when life support systems were disconnected at the medical center.

McClure's next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 22.