[FL] Ex-Officer Parker re-indicted for the death of his girlfriend's toddler, Kaedyn Short

...Former Avon Park police officer James Hilton Parker III, 34, of Sebring was re-indicted on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, in connection with the death of Kaedyn Alyssa Short, who was 22 months old at the time...

PREVIOUS POSTS:

• [FL] Officer Parker - reinstated after domestic violence - now accused of putting girlfriend's toddler in critical condition
• [FL] The 1 year old that REINSTATED Avon Park Police Officer James Parker was babysitting - "Baby Hope" Kaedyn Short - has died
• [FL] Officer Parker, previously reinstated after domestic violence charge, now charged with 1st degree murder
• [FL] Update on the death of baby Kaedyn Short

THREE FACE MURDER CHARGES: Jury indicts former officer in 1 of 3 cases

Highlands Today

By Joe Seelig

June 30, 2011

[Excerpts] A 21-member grand jury with two alternates that convened Monday and Tuesday indicted three men on first-degree murder charges in connection with three separate cases. Former Avon Park police officer James H. Parker III, 34, of Sebring was re-indicted on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, in connection with the death of Kaedyn Alyssa Short, who was 22 months old at the time. Parker was initially indicted on June 24, 2009, said Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin... The amended indictment only clarified, though it was obvious, that the victim was a child under the age of 18... Parker is accused of shaking Kaedyn Short and inflicting injuries that caused her death in May 2009, according a previous report. Kaedyn was the daughter of Jennifer Short, who was Parker's live-in girlfriend. Parker's arraignment on the amended indictment has been set for July 19... Kaedyn's death also resulted in two felony charges against Jennifer Short. Short was charged with neglect of a child with great bodily harm and failure to report child abuse within the home. A pre-trial conference for Short was scheduled for June 22. A continuance was granted in that case. The next pretrial conference for Short is scheduled for July 20... [Full article here]

SINCE LAST POST:

PAYNE FOUND NOT GUILTY

newssun.com

By Ed Baldridge

December 15, 2010

[Excerpts] Linda Louise Payne, 41, was acquitted by a jury on Friday after facing charges that she did not report suspected abuse upon 22-month-old Kaedyn Short... Payne, according to Highlands prosecutor Courtney Lenhart, failed to produce an incident report on Kaedyn after an investigation into her death began. Teachers at the day care reported bruises on the infant in 2008. Payne's defense attorney pointed out that Payne was not at the day care the day the incident report was filed and that two teachers at the day care who noticed the bruises never contacted the Department of Children and Family Services. The assistant director, Sara Vasquez, took the report and called the mother, who claimed that the bruises were caused from the child playing in moving boxes at a babysitter's house. Vasquez was also charged with failure to report abuse, but received deferred prosecution. The jurors took just over two hours of deliberation to render the not guilty verdict. [Full article here]

[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety lethal fatality fatalities murder child abuse children infant baby toddler florida state politics shaken baby syndrome]