SBS: Omaha: Keny Medrano-Cambara

March 15, 2011  Jason Kuiper
Doctors believe that the death of an Omaha toddler last summer was not accidental and may have been the result of shaken-baby syndrome, according to testimony Tuesday from an Omaha police detective.

Brianna A. Medrano, who was just short of 17 months old, died days after becoming ill at her babysitter's apartment.
The sitter, Keny Y. Medrano-Cambara, 30, was ordered to stand trial on a charge of felony child abuse causing death. She has denied the allegation. — http://www.omaha.com/article/20110315/NEWS97/703169922

SBS: Omaha: Diane Honaker

Jan 10 2011

It was nearly two months ago that Sarpy County daycare provider Diane Honaker was arrested for child abuse.
The Sarpy County Sheriff's Department contends she is responsible for the injuries that sent a five-month-old girl to the hospital.
And today in a Sarpy County courtroom, it was up to a judge to decide whether there's enough evidence against Honaker for the case to go to trial.
Did Diane Honaker shake a five-month-old baby so violently, it caused a life-threatening brain injury?
A medical expert and Sarpy County Sheriff's Deputy both say yes.
Now it's up to a Sarpy County judge to decide if there's enough evidence in the case for it to go to trial.

Diane Honaker leaves a Sarpy County courtroom after hearing some of the testimony against her.
Most of it coming from Doctor Suzanne Haney - the Medical Director of Project Harmony and an expert on shaken baby syndrome.

She testified that the baby's records showing the bleeding she had on her brain and retinas was consistent with shaken baby syndrome.

"It indicated something significant caused the bleeding. The blood being relatively new meant she had something significant in the last couple days," said Haney.

Haney added, "I believe her injuries were the result of shaking with or without impact."

After interrogating Honaker, the Sarpy County Sheriff's Department came to the same conclusion - that the five-month-old was shaken inside Honaker's Sarpy County home daycare.

In cross examination, Honaker's attorney Chris Lathrop refuted that.

Saying sheriff's deputies badgered and coerced Honaker during her interrogation - that all she said was quote "If I did shake her it was to soothe her. It was by no means intentional."

Lathrop also asserted that some pre-existing conditions could cause injuries similar to those the five-month-old had.

The judge will issue his ruling in two weeks on January 24th at 1:30 in the Sarpy County Courthouse.

The judge said he wanted to look at video from the interrogation before making his decision.
Honaker's attorney also got Doctor Haney to admit that commonly an entire child's brain is injured in shaken baby syndrome cases.
In this case, the injury was only on one side.

http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=13819087

SBS: Diane Honaker; Omaha

A tearful Diane Honaker sits in the Sarpy County Jail courtroom this morning after just learning her bond on child abuse charges wouldn't be reduced.
It still sits at ten percent of $75,000.
She was arrested Saturday at her in-home daycare.

"She was interviewed and based upon the results of the investigation she was arrested Saturday for child abuse intention which is a felony."

Captain Dan Williamson with the Sarpy County Sheriff's Department says the child's parents took her to the doctor Friday.

"That's when it was determined the child had some blood on the brain and blood on the eyes which is indicative of shaken baby syndrome," said Williamson.

While the Sarpy County Sheriff's office might be convinced this is a case of shaken baby syndrome, at least one of Honaker's friends says that simply isn't the case.

The friend didn't want to appear on camera, but told Honaker's side of the story outside the Sarpy County Jail today.

"There's a lot of facts on this case that have not been told. The media has been told one side of the story," said the friend.

She added, "There are medical conditions (referring to the child) that have not been brought to the media's attention. Accusations have been made and investigation has been poor."

"There's always two sides to every story. And Miss Honaker's version of what's going on has not been out there yet because we haven't had the opportunity to sit down and do an extensive interview," said Honaker's defense attorney Chris Lathrop.

Lathrop said he hadn't had a chance to look at the case but authorities are jumping to conclusions with the shaken baby charge.

"To say it's shaken baby syndrome at this point is absolutely speculative and there's plenty of experts out there who would testify to that."

Honaker's friend also says Honaker wanted to call 911 and have the baby taken to the hospital right away but the parents didn't do that.

http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=13531944