Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
Area baby's death listed as homicide
By Margie Wuebker
A St. Henry infant died July 8 of blunt force trauma to the head, according to a death certificate received by the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.
Trevor James Stammen, 6-month-old son of Brian and Angela Krieg Stammen, 2066 Fleetfoot Road, was pronounced dead at 6:04 p.m. at Children's Medical Center in Dayton. The death certificate, signed by Kent Edward Harshbarger of the Montgomery County Coroner's Office in Dayton, lists the manner of death as homicide.
An autopsy indicated the presence of two skull fractures, according to Mercer County Chief Deputy Gery Thobe. Investigators have not determined thus far when or where the injuries occurred.
"The only other injury noted on the baby was a bruise on one arm which could have come from squad personnel inserting a needle," Thobe told The Daily Standard Monday afternoon.
Angela Stammen reportedly told investigators she was running behind schedule July 8 and fed Trevor - the youngest of four children - around 6:45 a.m. She subsequently dropped the children off at the home of babysitter Tammy Evers, 502 Northview Drive, St. Henry, before heading to work around 7:30 a.m.
Evers called Mercer County 911 at 10:17 that morning to report an unresponsive infant whose eyes were rolled back. He was rushed to Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater and later transferred by ambulance to the Dayton hospital.
Community Hospital staff alerted the sheriff's office about the injuries with Detective Chris Hamberg and Pat Elking, a part-time St. Henry police officer and retired sheriff's deputy, making initial contact with the parents in Dayton.
A number of people, including the parents, Trevor's 9-year-old brother, the babysitter and children at her home, have been questioned during the ensuing weeks with some of the individuals reportedly submitting to lie detector tests and others refusing.
In addition, authorities brought in statement analysis expert Martha Miller from Virginia to review written statements. She also spoke with the baby's mother, according to sheriff's office reports.
"The investigation is ongoing with no charges filed at this point," Thobe said. "No one has been eliminated as a suspect but I can tell you the babysitter and her family have been nothing but cooperative through all this."
Information compiled thus far fills a 4-inch thick binder as detectives work with the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office regarding the next steps to be taken.
Mercer County Children's Services remains involved with at least one proceeding conducted in juvenile court. Thobe indicated he was unaware of the specific details.
