Father charged in Marion County baby death fights extradition

Arkansas-Ole Miss Live Blog
photo Christopher Eugene Russell

The man charged in Marion County, Tenn., in the 2012 death of his 3-month-old son continues to hold out against extradition as state officials seek a governor's warrant.

Chris Russell, the baby's father, is being held on a fugitive warrant in the Whitfield County Jail in Dalton, Ga., where he was living when taken into custody on Aug. 6.

Russell faces charges in Marion County of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse stemming from the June 2012 death of his infant son, Colin Eugene Russell.

Russell appeared before a Whitfield County judge on Aug. 8 and refused to sign an extradition waiver, Whitfield County officials said.

Whitfield jail officials said Monday that Russell still has no attorney on record and that he has not waived extradition. Extradition is the action of surrendering a person accused of a crime to another jurisdiction in another state or country for prosecution.

District Attorney General Mike Taylor said an extradition request has been made through Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's office. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal's office, if there are no problems, will issue a rendition order to transfer Russell to Marion County custody.

"Under the Uniform Extradition Act we're allowed 90 days and usually that's about how long it takes," Taylor said. "It's just a matter of getting paperwork done."

Russell remained the only "person of interest" throughout the investigation that began after medical officials told authorities the injuries the baby suffered were "suspicious." On June 17, 2012, the Sequatchie, Tenn., infant stopped breathing. He was taken to Grandview Medical Center in Jasper before being transferred to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Colin died June 23, 2012.

Autopsy reports say Colin died of "injuries consistent with repeated non-accidental trauma and a diagnosis of battered child syndrome."

Assistant District Attorney Dave McGovern said the case will move forward once Russell is back in Tennessee.

"If he happens to decide to waive extradition that would be great, but we're ready to make him come back, if not," McGovern said.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.

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