Autopsy
report doesn't contain ‘big surprises'
By
Casey Santee - Journal
Writer
January 31, 2006
POCATELLO -
Bannock County Prosecutor Mark Hiedeman said the autopsy report on
the death of a Pocatello 2-year-old is so complicated that he will
consult a Utah pathologist involved in the procedure before drawing
any conclusions.
Cameron
Hamilton died Dec. 5 at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt
Lake City of severe head injuries. Unlicensed autism counselor
Michelle Bott-Graham has been charged with felony injury to a child,
with a preliminary hearing set for Feb. 24.
Hiedeman said
the 15-page report, which describes many internal head injuries
allegedly inflicted on Nov. 29 by Bott-Graham, was compiled by three
Utah crime labs.
“If we were
dealing with gunshot or stab wounds, the results would be fairly
obvious,” Hiedeman said. “Internal and brain injuries are more
difficult.”
However,
Hiedeman reiterated the report contained no “big surprises.”
Bott-Graham's
hearing has been postponed three times. It is now scheduled for Feb.
24 in Magistrate Judge Robert Naftz's courtroom.
Hiedeman has
said he may file more serious charges in the case, and said Monday
that decision may take another week or two.
Police said
Hamilton's injuries occurred after Bott-Graham picked the boy up
from Achieving a Better life day care and mental health clinic in
Chubbuck. She allegedly took him to her Pocatello home to treat him
for autism. When she returned the child to ABL hours later,
employees called police and told them he was unresponsive.
Chubbuck
officials pulled the day-care's business license the following day
for hiring Bott-Graham without first doing a background check, which
would have revealed she had her counseling license revoked in 2003
following a heroin conviction among other violations. ABL remains
closed.
The Idaho
Department of Health and Welfare is now investigating the facility
for Medicaid fraud. Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is also
investigating ABL for licensing issues.
The Salt Lake
City medical examiner's office declined to comment.
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