BENJAMIN YHIP - 2 yo/ Accused: Father-Dr James Yhip and Mother-RN Edelyn Yhip - Chico CA

A Chico couple were arrested Wednesday for alleged
ongoing abuse of their 2-year-old adopted son, with the mother killing
him by inflicting blunt force trauma to his head in April.
Nurse Edelyn Yhip, 43, was arrested on suspicion of murder, felony
child endangerment and abuse of a child younger than 8 years old causing
death said, Sgt. Jason Hail of the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

Chico cardiologist Dr. James Yhip, 46, was also arrested on suspicion of murder and felony child endangerment, Hail said.

About 6 p.m. April 18, Edelyn Yhip called 9-1-1 from a home on
the 4500 block Gardenbrook Drive to report that her son, Benjamin, was
unresponsive, Hail said.

Medical personnel responded and transported the boy by ambulance
to Enloe Medical Center. He was stabilized in the emergency room, then
an air ambulance took him to Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento
where he deteriorated and died the next afternoon.

The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the
head. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said investigators are
unsure how the injury was inflicted, but it was massive enough to cause
a brain injury but not a broken skull.

After a lengthy review of medical and adoption records,
investigators determined that the parents allegedly abused the boy and
the mother was responsible for his injuries April 18, Hail said. Some of
the records were in Chinese. The Yhips adopted Benjamin and his twin
fraternal brother from

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Taiwan, Ramsey said.
They also separately adopted a daughter, Hail said. The other two were placed with Children's Services after Benjamin's death.

"The other children appeared to be fine," Ramsey said. "He appears to be the targeted child."

Ramsey said investigators think Edelyn Yhip hurt the boy that
day, however they do not discount the possibility that James Yhip could
have been involved.

The boy's medical problems at first looked like they were
disease-based, but Ramsey said it appears they resulted from abuse and
active neglect by both parents. He had been hospitalized once for
malnutrition and had broken bones from previous injuries.

"This child had been gravely abused over his time with the Yhips," Ramsey alleged.

Ramsey said he is not sure why the parents would hurt the
toddler. The boy had behavioral problems, which could have been innate
or as a result from the alleged abuse.

"It's a very sad, very tragic case and there was some opportunity
during the process for some red flags," Ramsey said. "There was
hospitalization at Sutter Memorial at the end of November for extreme
malnutrition. It was probably explained away.

"I think as a doctor and Mrs. Yhip being a medical professional
they were given more of a break than perhaps someone else might have
been."

A Sutter Memorial Hospital representative could not be reached by deadline Wednesday.

Both Yhips work in Enloe Medical Center, James as a cardiologist
since 2006 and Edelyn as a nurse in the medical oncology clinic since
2011, hospital spokeswoman Khristina Chavira said. The cardiologist also
worked at Northstate Cardiology Consultants.

Chavira said the pair did not treat children while working in the hospital.

"We are deeply saddened and distressed by this terrible event and
hope for a fair and speedy resolution to the judicial process," an
Enloe press release read. "In the meantime, we are committed to
respecting the privacy of the Yhip family and to cooperating fully in
the investigation as the sheriff's office deems appropriate."

The Butte County Sheriff's Office and Butte County District Attorney investigators worked together on the case.

The Yhips were still in the Butte County Jail as of 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Ramsey said. The father's bail was set at $1.05 million. The
mother's bail was set at $2.05 million. If they don't bail out of jail,
they might be arraigned Friday.
http://www.chicoer.com/breakingnews/ci_21111044/nurse-doctor-allegedly-kill-young-son

OROVILLE — A Chico doctor and nurse were
officially arraigned on murder and child endangerment charges this
afternoon for the death of their 2-year-old adopted son.
Judge Michael Candela informed nurse Edelyn Yhip, 43, and Dr. James
Yhip, 46, of the charges this afternoon related to the death of their
son, Benjamin, on April 19.

If they are convicted of the charges, they face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

The defendants did not enter pleas today. Defense attorneys asked
for an Aug. 2 hearing for further arraignment and entry of plea.

The Yhips were arrested Wednesday following a three-month investigation into Benjamin's death.

According to Butte County sheriff's Sgt. Jason Hail, Edelyn Yhip
called 9-1-1 at 6 p.m. on April 18 to report Benjamin was unresponsive.
The boy was eventually transported to Sutter Memorial Hospital in
Sacramento where he died the following afternoon.

Investigators reportedly determined the cause of the death to be
blunt force trauma to the head. Further review of medical and adoption
records led investigators to conclude the Yhips allegedly abused the boy
and that the mother was allegedly responsible for Benjamin's injuries
on April 18.

Attorney John Duree Jr., representing James Yhip, and Victor
Haltom, representing Edelyn Yhip, asked Candela to reduce bail for their
clients. They argued the Yhips had successful medical careers and were
excellent parents that repeatedly sought appropriate care for their child.

Haltom told the judge a local doctor reviewed medical records and
wrote that Benjamin's death wasn't homicide. He said the doctor believes
the boy suffered from a serious medical condition that can kill
children before they turn 1.

Duree challenged the prosecution's allegations about the nature
of Benjamin's death. He said there was no single contributing factor to
the brain swelling and there were no indications of exterior bruising on
the head.

Duree noted the boy had profound medical and behavior problems, even before the Yhips adopted him from Taiwan.

"This is no open and shut case, and Dr. Yhip has every intention of fighting this through," Duree said.

District Attorney Michael Ramsey disputed Duree's claims, saying
there were signs of bruising. He also disputed the assertion that
Benjamin's medical problems extended back to birth. Ramsey said it
appeared Benjamin's medical conditions developed while under the Yhips'
care.

"There is no doubt that a blunt force trauma blow killed this young man," Ramsey said.

Candela set bail at the amount recommended for the charges — $1
million each. At Ramsey's request, the judge set conditions if the Yhips
are released on bail, including restrictions on seeking a passport,
leaving the state without permission and to follow all court orders.
http://www.chicoer.com/breakingnews/ci_21122912/doctor-nurse-arraigned-murder-child-abuse-charges-death