Man accused of killing son asks judge to allow him contact with victim's twin sister

ELIZABETH EVANS The York Dispatch

Updated: 09/17/2010 10:14:54 AM EDT

A Carroll Township man accused, along with his wife, of fatally beating their 7-year-old adopted son has asked a judge to allow him to have contact with their daughter.

She is the twin sister of Nathaniel Craver, who died Aug. 25, 2009, of complications from traumatic brain injuries, according to authorities, who also said he was malnourished. Nathaniel suffered some 80 external injuries in various stages of healing, police said.

Michael J. Craver, 46, and Nanette L. Craver, 54, both of 36 Blair Mountain Road, remain in York County Prison without bail, charged with first-degree murder and related offenses in their son's death. If convicted, they face the death penalty.

The Cravers, who adopted Nathaniel and his sister from a Russian orphanage, maintain Nathaniel caused his own injuries.

Letters, calls: On Sept. 13, defense attorneys filed a motion asking Common Pleas Judge John S. Kennedy to allow Michael Craver to have contact with the girl in the form of letters and supervised telephone calls.

"There are no allegations that the defendant has harmed, either by action or inaction, (the girl) at any time," the motion states. "Defendant currently, as a condition of his bail, has a no-contact provision regarding (the girl)."

Michael Craver is willing to abide by any other conditions placed on such contact by York County Children and Youth Services, according to the motion filed by defense attorney Clasina Mahoney.

The Cravers' daughter is now living with a family member and has been appointed a guardian ad litem. A guardian ad litem is a person assigned by a judge to look out for the best interests of a child during the course of legal proceedings.

Nanette Craver's attorneys have not filed a similar motion, according to court records.

The Cravers' next court appearance is set for Sept. 22, for a pretrial conference and possible motions hearing.

-- Reach Elizabeth Evans at levans@yorkdispatch.com, 505-5429 or twitter.com/ydcrimetime.