Deetrick Brown

Name: Deetrick Brown.
Died: January 16, 2003.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Fatal abuse.
Location: La Quinta, California, USA.

Details:
Deetrick died of abusive head trauma that caused repeated seizures in the months before his death. His parents argued that, rather than being abused, Deetrick was a “drug baby” who had an intellectual disability, epilepsy, and autism, and that it was this that had caused his death.

When Deetrick died, a judge ruled there wasn’t enough evidence for the case to go to trial. But ten years later, the case was re-opened and reexamined, and his father and stepmother were arrested. Deetrick’s father was acquitted; his mother was convicted of second-degree murder, but the conviction was overturned because of insufficient evidence, and she was granted a new trial on murder charges. Her second trial is ongoing.

Editor’s note: Deetrick’s disabilities may have been the result of mistreatment, rather than congenital. If so, then Deetrick was never autistic, and autism was used as a cover-up or excuse–much like in the cases of Lexie Agyepong-Glover and Brandon Williams. On the other hand, if Deetrick’s death was natural, as his parents claim, then there may be a racial discrimination issue here: Black parents are suspected of abuse more quickly than white parents, convicted more often, and punished more harshly. We can only hope the courts will uncover what really happened to little Deetrick, and that justice will be done. Crucially, medical examiners would have to firmly establish evidence that abusive head trauma caused Deetrick’s seizures, which will be difficult with twenty years having passed since the toddler’s death.

References:
Closing Arguments Scheduled in Trial of La Quinta Woman Accused in Toddler’s Murder
Woman found guilty of 2nd degree murder for toddler’s death
Husband acquitted, testimony continues for wife in toddler murder trial
New Trial Sought For La Quinta Woman Convicted In Toddler’s Death 13 Years After It Happened
New Trial Sought For RivCo Woman Convicted in Toddler’s Death 13 Years After It Happened