CADEN DEMARI WILLIAMS - 1 month (2/2014)/ Charged: Father; Ricky Lee Clark Jr. - Kinson NC

Autopsy report: 1-month-old died of 'abusive head trauma'
Baby's death now a homicide investigation

By WCTI Staff
POSTED: 9:55 AM Sep 02 2014
UPDATED: 8:21 PM Sep 02 2014

KINSTON, LENOIR COUNTY - *Editor's note: The details of the autopsy report are graphic.*

Autopsy documents say a 1-month-old Kinston baby whose death was ruled a homicide died of "abusive head trauma" and other injuries.

The Kinston Department of Public Safety said 1-month-old Caden Demari Williams, of Hill Street, died on Feb. 17. At that time, the cause of death was undetermined.

But an autopsy revealed that the baby's death was a homicide, said police. On Aug. 20, the Kinston Department of Public Safety reopened the investigation.

THE DAY OF CADEN'S DEATH:

According to the autopsy report, 1-month-old Caden was in the care of his father when he coughed up blood on Feb. 17. The father then changed the baby's clothes and put him back to bed, the report says.

About an hour later, the father checked on Caden and found the 1-month-old unresponsive, the report states. The baby's parents and paternal grandparents then took the infant to Lenoir Memorial Hospital.

The report says the baby had no pulse and CPR was performed. But the infant was not responsive and was pronounced dead at 2:50 a.m. on Feb. 17, just 16 minutes after arriving at the hospital, according to the report.

AUTOPSY RESULTS:

The Brody School of Medicine at ECU performed an autopsy.

"Autopsy examination revealed acute subdural hemorrhage suspicious for abusive head trauma as well as rib fractures, contusions of the thymus and right middle lobe of the lung, and multiple lacerations of the liver," the report says.

The 1-month-old was suffering from subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain), according to the report. In addition, the baby had mild brain swelling and retinal bleeding, as well as a skull fracture, a spinal cord injury, and four rib fractures.

"[The injuries are] consistent with compressive grasping of the infant by the chest and vigorously shaking and slamming the infant against a relatively soft but nonyielding object. Striking the infant with a hand or fist would produce similar injuries," the report states.

Further examination of the baby's brain revealed that the injuries were acute and occurred within hours of the baby's death, according to the report. An examination of the spinal cord revealed that the injuries were acute and in the process of healing, with some prior injuries dating back at least two to four days, the report says.

The baby's rib fractures were healing, indicating that the injuries had occurred several days prior to his death, the report states.

The report explains that the infant could have appeared relatively normal just hours before the fatal injuries were inflicted.

Based on the findings, the report concluded that the cause of death is "abusive head trauma and blunt/compressive force injuries of the trunk."

No arrest has been made in this case. The investigation is ongoing, police said.

FAMILY MEMBERS SPEAK:

NewsChannel 12 talked with the baby's mother, Tyrianna Williams, on Tuesday about her son's death.

"I'm a nice person. I was a good mother to him. Caden-- he was just the most precious baby," said Williams. "He passed through my mind every single day, but I try not to like cry and show emotions. Because like he's a part of me, I just want to know why it happened."

Williams said the father of the child, Ricky Clark, has not told her much about her son's last moments.

"Come forth and like, if you don't want to go to nobody else, just come to me and tell me like what happened, why it happened, and just explain to me everything," Williams said.

NewsChannel 12 visited Clark's home Tuesday to get his side of the story, but no one came to the door.

Tyrianna Williams' aunt, Nakia Blackwell, said she is bothered by Clark's silence.

http://www.wcti12.com/news/kinston-police-investigating-homicide-of-onemonthold-baby/27834948

NC dad charged with murder in brutal death of infant son

Posted: Sep 15, 2014 7:35 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 15, 2014 7:41 PM CDT
By WNCT News


Caden Williams

KINSTON, NC - The father of an 1-month-old baby has now been charged in the murder of the North Carolina child, which happened in February.

Just 2 weeks ago, officials ruled the Feb. 17 death of baby Caden Williams -- who suffered broken ribs, liver damage and head trauma -- a homicide.

Now, they have charged Ricky Lee Clark Jr. at his home around 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. He's charged with an open count of murder in the death of his infant son, who was visiting Clark Jr. at the time the baby started coughing up blood, officials and Caden's aunt say.


Ricky Lee Clark, Jr.

Kinston Public Safety re-opened the investigation recently after the autopsy revealed someone killed the 1-month-old. Officers say they needed the autopsy to know for sure how little Caden Williams died.

The autopsy revealed someone broke Caden's ribs, damaged his liver, and delivered some serious head trauma. Officials then ruled it homicide.

Clark Jr., age 20, is being held without bond in the Lenoir County Jail. His first appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.

Caden's aunt says the baby started coughing up blood and stopped breathing during a visit to his father, Ricky Lee Clark Jr.'s, house. Caden's mother, Tyrianna Williams, just wants someone to give her some answers.

“Now that we have the autopsy report back, it's no sleeping. We know somebody actually killed this baby," said the victim's aunt, Nakia Blackwell.

Blackwell says Caden passed away while visiting his father on February 17th.

"We sent a perfectly healthy baby away, and the next thing you know we are at the hospital kissing a dead baby," said Blackwell.

Blackwell says the last six months waiting for the autopsy results have been difficult for Caden's mother. She says the details of Caden's injuries were hard for family to read.

“It was a gruesome murder. You shook this baby, you punched this baby, you slapped this baby, and then you didn't get the baby [any] help," said Blackwell.

Blackwell says she will continue to push for justice for Caden.

Just after the case was re-opened weeks ago, the family hosted a candlelight vigil for Caden in Kinston.

http://www.wbtw.com/story/26539429/nc-dad