Deborah Mark faces license revocation, arraignment
By TOMI L. WILEY, for The Wilson Post
MT. JULIET -- The fate of a local physician recently indicted for the murder of her child stemming from child abuse was set to be decided late Tuesday as a State board met to hear details of a consent order and determine her licensure status.
According to Shelley Walker with the Tennessee Department of Health, Dr. Deborah Mark, a pediatrician who was criminally charged with first degree murder in the death of her adopted daughter on July 12, agreed to surrender her license to practice medicine until the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners determine her license status at a meeting Tuesday. Neither Dr. Mark nor her attorney were expected to attend.
Shelley said the board's discussion and final decision on the order “could take place any time between 1 p.m., when members return from lunch break, and the end of the board's business day Tuesday, which could be as late as 6 p.m.” Also, no one with the Department of Health or the Board of Medical Examiners were available for interviews since this disciplinary matter and the criminal case are on-going.
If the board ratifies the order, Dr. Mark will be unable to perform duties as a medical doctor in Tennessee.
An arraignment hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Friday, July 23, for Dr. Mark and her husband, Steven Mark. Both face multiple child abuse charges, and Dr. Mark has been charged with Felony first degree murder in the death of her adopted daughter, Kairissa Mark, age 4.
Authorities said the child was the victim of “extensive and extended” child abuse. She died July 2 after police responded to the Mark residence at 441 Laurel Hill Drive in the Autumn Ridge subdivision in Providence. The parents, who also have an 8-year-old biological daughter, were indicted on multiple charges by the Wilson County grand jury July 12 after a 10-day investigation.
Charges for Dr. Mark include one count of Felony First Degree Murder, one count Perpetration of Aggravated Child Abuse, one count Aggravated Child Abuse, and four counts Child Abuse. Charges for Steven Mark include one count Aggravated Child Abuse and Neglect, one count Criminal Responsibility for Aggravated Child Abuse, one count Aggravated Assault by Failure to Protect, four counts Child Abuse and one count Accessory After the Fact.
Editor’s Note: Tomi L. Wiley is the editor of The Chronicle of Mt. Juliet. She may be contacted at Editor@thechronicleofmtjuliet.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .