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Woman charged in baby's death says she has mental illness
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By Ra'Vae Edwards
redwards@newstribune.com
The Miller County woman charged with second-degree murder for allegedly causing the death of a 20-month-old toddler said she suffers from mental illness and she has no memory of hurting the child.
In statements filed with the court, Roshell Dawn Johnson, 32, told investigators she has a history of mental illness and blacking out, which she believes may have happened on Jan. 29 when her fiancé's daughter was injured while in her care.
The incident occurred at Johnson's home on Mill Creek Road in the Brumley area when she said she heard a thud from another room. When Johnson checked on the child, she believed she was suffering from a seizure.
After giving the child medicine for the seizure, Johnson contacted the child's father, Francis McCoy, who was at work in Osage Beach, and he called 911 asking for medical assistance for his unresponsive daughter.
The child was flown to the University of Missouri-Columbia Medical Center, where she died the next day. An autopsy was performed by the Boone County Medical Examiner's Office on Jan. 31.
Although official results of the autopsy have not been released, Miller County Det. Eric Vernon said medical authorities reported the child suffered from “a classic textbook case of Shaken Baby Syndrom,e caused from the child being violently shaken by an adult.”
Vernon said the autopsy revealed internal bleeding on the brain caused by a severed artery inside the back of the cranium and hemorrhaging of the optical nerve, all of which are consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome.
According to the probable cause statement filed in the court records, when questioned about the incident, Johnson said: “I told her that if she did not pick up her toys she was going to go to time out. She then just kept trying to walk away from me and leave the room.
“I remember grabbing her by her PJs and bringing her back into the room and telling her to pick up her toys now. I do not remember doing anything else to her at the time of picking her up.
“I do have a mental illness and have been known to black out. This could be a possibility of what happened. The next thing I know is that (she) was laying on the floor and not moving.”
Additionally, Vernon said he obtained written statements from family and friends of both Johnson and McCoy that they have heard and observed different signs of possible abuse in the past involving Johnson and the child.
Two of Johnson's children were in the home at the time of the incident, but information revealed an investigation conducted by the Missouri Division of Children's Services about a year ago resulted in the permanent removal of six children, all of which belong to Johnson.
On Sunday, a press release issued by Sheriff Bill Abbott incorrectly stated the charges filed against Johnson on Saturday. She is currently charged with second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse.
A court date has not been set and Johnson remains in custody at the Miller County Jail on a $300,000 bond.
In statements filed with the court, Roshell Dawn Johnson, 32, told investigators she has a history of mental illness and blacking out, which she believes may have happened on Jan. 29 when her fiancé's daughter was injured while in her care.
The incident occurred at Johnson's home on Mill Creek Road in the Brumley area when she said she heard a thud from another room. When Johnson checked on the child, she believed she was suffering from a seizure.
After giving the child medicine for the seizure, Johnson contacted the child's father, Francis McCoy, who was at work in Osage Beach, and he called 911 asking for medical assistance for his unresponsive daughter.
The child was flown to the University of Missouri-Columbia Medical Center, where she died the next day. An autopsy was performed by the Boone County Medical Examiner's Office on Jan. 31.
Although official results of the autopsy have not been released, Miller County Det. Eric Vernon said medical authorities reported the child suffered from “a classic textbook case of Shaken Baby Syndrom,e caused from the child being violently shaken by an adult.”
Vernon said the autopsy revealed internal bleeding on the brain caused by a severed artery inside the back of the cranium and hemorrhaging of the optical nerve, all of which are consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome.
According to the probable cause statement filed in the court records, when questioned about the incident, Johnson said: “I told her that if she did not pick up her toys she was going to go to time out. She then just kept trying to walk away from me and leave the room.
“I remember grabbing her by her PJs and bringing her back into the room and telling her to pick up her toys now. I do not remember doing anything else to her at the time of picking her up.
“I do have a mental illness and have been known to black out. This could be a possibility of what happened. The next thing I know is that (she) was laying on the floor and not moving.”
Additionally, Vernon said he obtained written statements from family and friends of both Johnson and McCoy that they have heard and observed different signs of possible abuse in the past involving Johnson and the child.
Two of Johnson's children were in the home at the time of the incident, but information revealed an investigation conducted by the Missouri Division of Children's Services about a year ago resulted in the permanent removal of six children, all of which belong to Johnson.
On Sunday, a press release issued by Sheriff Bill Abbott incorrectly stated the charges filed against Johnson on Saturday. She is currently charged with second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse.
A court date has not been set and Johnson remains in custody at the Miller County Jail on a $300,000 bond.
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pickles wrote on Feb 18, 2008 10:44 AM: