Traverse City Record-Eagle

Archive: Friday

March 12, 2010

Lawyer wants second autopsy for infant boy

First results unavailable for two weeks

By ALEX PIAZZA

TRAVERSE CITY -- A lawyer wants a second autopsy to be performed on a newborn whose body was found in his mother's basement.

Traverse City attorney Melanie Stanton represents the family of a girl, 15, who was admitted Monday to Munson Medical Center for injuries "consistent with those that occur during normal birth."

Authorities later found a newborn boy dead in the girl's basement. The family retained Stanton on Tuesday, authorities said.

Traverse City Police drove to the girl's Griffin Street residence shortly after she was admitted to the hospital, and found the body.

An initial autopsy was completed this week at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, but authorities said a full report will not be available for up to two weeks. Detectives also took DNA samples to a medical laboratory in Lansing for testing.

Police Capt. Brian Heffner said he's not sure whether the family will follow through with a second autopsy, and said the department has yet to receive any information on the initial autopsy. Hospital officials refused to comment on autopsy results until police conclude their investigation.

The girl was released from the hospital, but police have yet to interview her.

"They have had some contact with Melanie Stanton, but no specific dates or times have been set," Heffner said.

Stanton did not return calls for comment.

Grand Traverse County's medical examiner said it appears the girl gave birth between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, but has yet to determine whether it was a natural birth or a miscarriage.

Related Stories:
- Investigation continues in newborn death
- Police probe newborn's death

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