Homicide suspected in death of infant

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MORE ON THE INFANT DEATHS

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September Infant Death:
- Dead baby found in backpack

May Infant Death:
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- Woman to stand trial in death of newborn
- Dead newborn baby's mother arraigned
- GT baby's death leads to charges
- Dead infant's mother ID'd
- Unidentified newborn laid to rest
- Cause of infant's death still unknown
- Homicide suspected in death of infant
- Dead infant found in backyard

March Infant Death:
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- Police awaiting autopsy results on infant
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- Investigation continues in newborn death
- Police probe newborn's death

May 18, 2010

BY ALEX PIAZZA apiazza@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Tue May 18, 2010, 07:28 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — Rob Olman's granddaughter plays with dolls in the same backyard where two teens toiling at lawn chores found a dead infant.

"I want to know what's going on," said Olman, who lives a few doors from the site where the body was found Friday at 819 Gladewood Lane near Barlow Street in Garfield Township. "I'm very concerned. This is all a shocker to us."

An autopsy was scheduled Monday in Grand Rapids as authorities attempt to learn the infant's identity and cause of death. The initial investigation hints at homicide, said Grand Traverse County sheriff's Capt. Tom Emerson.

"Something happened there that wasn't appropriate," he said. "It was a pretty horrific scene."

Investigators believe the infant died inside the residence, then was hidden in the backyard. Autopsy results should give them a better indication of when the infant died, but Emerson believes the death occurred before Friday.

The teens found the body near a fence. Emerson refused to comment on the infant's condition, but said "it was pretty gruesome."

Deputies believe the infant's mother lived at the house, but they haven't specifically identified her and no one has come forward.

Olman said his granddaughter, 2, lives at 819 Gladewood with her mother and other relatives. He watched the girl while Grand Traverse sheriff's deputies searched the scene, and she was allowed to return home when investigators left.

Olman, a resident of Gladewood Lane for eight years, isn't so sure the infant's mother resided there, and contends the culprit could have been someone else who briefly stayed there.

"It doesn't make any sense," he said. "I don't see how it could be anybody who lives there."

The discovery means Grand Traverse County authorities are confronted with a second infant death investigation in less than three months. Traverse City police in March found a dead infant in the basement of a Griffin Street residence.

A girl, 15, was admitted on March 8 to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City with hemorrhaging caused during birth. Police drove to the girl's Griffin Street residence shortly after she was admitted to the hospital and found a dead newborn boy in the basement.

Police forwarded the investigation over to the prosecutor's office but have yet to file criminal charges.