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Jessica R. Walters
PORTAGE | A 20-year-old Portage woman is accused in the death of her 15-month-old son, who suffered internal injuries and bleeding.
Jessica R. Walters, of 2395 Sloan St., turned herself into Portage police Wednesday on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent in the death of her son, Timothy D. Walters.
Police responded to her home at 5:41 a.m. Sunday after a 911 call that the child was unresponsive and not breathing. Upon arrival, officers performed CPR until Portage Fire Department paramedics arrived and transported the boy to Porter Portage Hospital Campus, where he was pronounced dead at 7:24 a.m.
Portage police Sgt. Keith Hughes said Walters was interviewed several times by police. She told police her son had been ill with the flu for nearly two weeks and was taking doctor-prescribed medication. She told police the medication was difficult to give to the child so she restrained him on the couch. Police said she admitted she must have used too much restraint while holding the child down to give him his medicine.
According to police booking information, Jessica Walters is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 260 pounds.
Porter County Coroner Vicki Deppe said an autopsy performed Monday in South Bend indicated the restraint used by the mother "caused really serious internal injuries." The child's injuries were consistent with what Walters told police, Deppe said.
It was determined in the autopsy the child suffered broken ribs, several internal injuries and bleeding.
http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2008/11/26//updates/breaking_news/doc492de92e609b2817944440.txt