A Murray County, Ga., grand jury could hear evidence this month about how an infant girl’s death in November 2010 was not an accident, authorities said.
Jaidyn Alexis Whaley, the daughter of Isaac and Francie Whaley, died at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga on Nov. 19, 2010.
Two days before the baby died, a family member had called 911 from a G.I. Maddox Parkway home in Chatsworth about a problem with the child, authorities said.
Months later, Jaidyn’s death was ruled a homicide following an autopsy, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Greg Ramey said. But her case has been under investigation, and no one has been arrested, he said.
“These cases are very difficult,” Ramey said.
The autopsy report shows Jaidyn died of abusive head trauma, which used to be called shaken-baby syndrome, Conasauga Circuit District Attorney Kermit McManus said.
McManus said he plans to take the case to the grand jury Jan. 16. But he declined to say who is a suspect and what the charges would be.
Authorities would not provide a copy of the autopsy report, citing an open investigation.
Joy Lukachick is a crime reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Since 2009, she's covered breaking news, high-profile trials, stories of lost lives and of regained hope and done investigative work. Raised near the Bayou, Joy’s hometown is along the outskirts of Baton Rouge, La. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, Joy was a staff writer for the Daily Reveille. When Joy isn't chasing down ...
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