Prosecution rests, defense begins in trial against teen parents
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
November 30, 2016
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/prosecution-rests-defense-begins-in-trial-against-teenage-parents/article_7fb2867c-5b13-11e7-893f-10604b9f0f42.html
Jurors heard from a long line of witnesses Tuesday, including local law enforcement officers and medical professionals, as the commonwealth wrapped up its case against two teenage parents accused of leaving a newborn infant in a dumpster last year.
The teens, Casside Cherry, 16, and Trevon Elmore, 18, are charged with attempted murder, criminal abuse and tampering with physical evidence.
During Tuesday's testimony, Det. Matt Carter said Elmore was interviewed at the sheriff's department on July 30, several hours after the baby was found.
Carter said Elmore initially denied any knowledge or involvement, but changed his story a few hours later, stating "I did it."
"(Elmore) explained he was present when the baby was delivered," Carter said. "He assisted with the delivery. After the baby was delivered, he took the baby, wrapped it up in a blanket, put it in the black garbage bag and took it to the dumpster."
At the dumpster, Carter said Elmore stated he saw Daniel Hodge, the man who later found the baby, and waited to put the infant in the dumpster until he was sure Hodge saw him too. Elmore said he then waited nearby until he saw Hodge go to the dumpster, before returning to Cherry to help clean up.
When questioned by Elmore's attorney, Angela Troutman, Carter conceded that Elmore stated he had poked holes in the garbage bag, before placing it in the dumpster, so the child could breathe. Carter also said Elmore expressed remorse, stating he knew what he did was wrong.
Due to her medical condition, which caused her to be hospitalized for an extended period of time, Carter said he was unable to interview Cherry until Aug. 14, 2015.
During that interview, Cherry claimed to have little memory of what occurred following the birth, stating she had "blacked out and had a seizure."
Carter said Cherry did express fear that Trevon would get in trouble for statutory rape because he was 17 and she was 15 when she got pregnant. That fear, the detective said, was likely the driving force that led to this incident.
Regarding evidence collected during the investigation, McCracken Detective Darrin Frommeyer testified that he collected a black, plastic garbage bag, a pink polka-dotted comforter and a navy blue bed sheet from the dumpster. Bloody clothes and towels were also collected from Cherry's bedroom and the adjacent bathroom, he said.
The jury also heard testimony from a neo-natal nurse who treated the child at the hospital.
Morgan DeMyer, a NICU nurse at Baptist Health Paducah, said the child, a girl, was estimated to be about three weeks premature.
At the hospital, she said the baby exhibited signs of "mild to moderate hypothermia," and labored breathing.
DeMyer said the child was treated with oxygen, swaddled with warming blankets and placed in a bed with a special heated mattress to address those concerns. The child also was given antibiotics to stave off any possible infections.
After about a week in the neo-natal intensive care unit, the baby girl was released into state custody.
Once the commonwealth concluded its case, Null and Troutman began to call their witnesses.
Null, who said his client, Cherry, had suffered multiple seizures following the birth that left her confused and impaired her memory, began building his defense, calling Patty Wray, a retired nurse, to testify.
Though she did not treat Cherry, Wray stated she had reviewed the medical records from Baptist Health Paducah and the Louisville hospital where Cherry was treated, concluding that Cherry suffered from preeclampsia prior to giving birth and eclampsia.
A condition that can develop during pregnancy, preeclampsia is typically marked by high blood pressure and a high level of protein in the mother's urine. Eclampsia refers to the onset of seizures in connection with preeclampsia.
Cherry's sister Sadie Cherry and mother, Della Cherry, were also called to testify.
That night, after the baby was born, the sister testified she found Cherry in the bathtub having a seizure and called 911.
Both women said they had no idea Cherry was pregnant.
At the hospital, Della Cherry said she was informed her daughter had, had a seizure and was experiencing complications from giving birth. The mother said she realized, when detectives came asking questions, that Cherry's baby was the infant found in the dumpster.
The defense attorneys will wrap up their cases today, with testimony starting at 8:30 a.m. It is not yet clear whether Cherry will testify in her defense, but Elmore is expected to take the stand.
The teens, Casside Cherry, 16, and Trevon Elmore, 18, are charged with attempted murder, criminal abuse and tampering with physical evidence.
During Tuesday's testimony, Det. Matt Carter said Elmore was interviewed at the sheriff's department on July 30, several hours after the baby was found.
Carter said Elmore initially denied any knowledge or involvement, but changed his story a few hours later, stating "I did it."
"(Elmore) explained he was present when the baby was delivered," Carter said. "He assisted with the delivery. After the baby was delivered, he took the baby, wrapped it up in a blanket, put it in the black garbage bag and took it to the dumpster."
At the dumpster, Carter said Elmore stated he saw Daniel Hodge, the man who later found the baby, and waited to put the infant in the dumpster until he was sure Hodge saw him too. Elmore said he then waited nearby until he saw Hodge go to the dumpster, before returning to Cherry to help clean up.
When questioned by Elmore's attorney, Angela Troutman, Carter conceded that Elmore stated he had poked holes in the garbage bag, before placing it in the dumpster, so the child could breathe. Carter also said Elmore expressed remorse, stating he knew what he did was wrong.
Due to her medical condition, which caused her to be hospitalized for an extended period of time, Carter said he was unable to interview Cherry until Aug. 14, 2015.
During that interview, Cherry claimed to have little memory of what occurred following the birth, stating she had "blacked out and had a seizure."
Carter said Cherry did express fear that Trevon would get in trouble for statutory rape because he was 17 and she was 15 when she got pregnant. That fear, the detective said, was likely the driving force that led to this incident.
Regarding evidence collected during the investigation, McCracken Detective Darrin Frommeyer testified that he collected a black, plastic garbage bag, a pink polka-dotted comforter and a navy blue bed sheet from the dumpster. Bloody clothes and towels were also collected from Cherry's bedroom and the adjacent bathroom, he said.
The jury also heard testimony from a neo-natal nurse who treated the child at the hospital.
Morgan DeMyer, a NICU nurse at Baptist Health Paducah, said the child, a girl, was estimated to be about three weeks premature.
At the hospital, she said the baby exhibited signs of "mild to moderate hypothermia," and labored breathing.
DeMyer said the child was treated with oxygen, swaddled with warming blankets and placed in a bed with a special heated mattress to address those concerns. The child also was given antibiotics to stave off any possible infections.
After about a week in the neo-natal intensive care unit, the baby girl was released into state custody.
Once the commonwealth concluded its case, Null and Troutman began to call their witnesses.
Null, who said his client, Cherry, had suffered multiple seizures following the birth that left her confused and impaired her memory, began building his defense, calling Patty Wray, a retired nurse, to testify.
Though she did not treat Cherry, Wray stated she had reviewed the medical records from Baptist Health Paducah and the Louisville hospital where Cherry was treated, concluding that Cherry suffered from preeclampsia prior to giving birth and eclampsia.
A condition that can develop during pregnancy, preeclampsia is typically marked by high blood pressure and a high level of protein in the mother's urine. Eclampsia refers to the onset of seizures in connection with preeclampsia.
Cherry's sister Sadie Cherry and mother, Della Cherry, were also called to testify.
That night, after the baby was born, the sister testified she found Cherry in the bathtub having a seizure and called 911.
Both women said they had no idea Cherry was pregnant.
At the hospital, Della Cherry said she was informed her daughter had, had a seizure and was experiencing complications from giving birth. The mother said she realized, when detectives came asking questions, that Cherry's baby was the infant found in the dumpster.
The defense attorneys will wrap up their cases today, with testimony starting at 8:30 a.m. It is not yet clear whether Cherry will testify in her defense, but Elmore is expected to take the stand.
