How Could You? Hall of Shame-Jace Burgess case-Child Death UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Tulsa, Oklahoma, adoptee Jace Burgess died on June 16, 2010 at age 3 from a brain bleed. Jace was born prematurely (25 weeks) when he was taken into care by single foster parent Leslie Burgess. She subsequently adopted him. Her live-in boyfriend of 4 months, Cody Keith Sartin, 30, was home at the time of the subdural hematoma (brain bleed).

Cody Keith Sartin is charged with first-degree murder. His trial began on Thursday February 16, 2012.

“Late June 12, 2010, the mother worked a night shift and Jace was left in the sole care of Sartin at their residence in the 4000 block of East 25th Street, police reported.

After 1 a.m., Sartin called 911 and reported that Jace’s eyes were half open and that his breathing was not normal, police reported.

In his opening statement, defense lawyer Mark Cagle told jurors that “we don’t know how Jace died.”

No one will testify with certainty when the boy was injured, he said.

There will be testimony that “Cody loved Jace and Jace loved Cody,” Cagle said.

A medical examiner ruled that the death was a homicide and that the probable cause of death was blunt head trauma.

The opening witnesses for the prosecution testified about circumstances surrounding injuries sustained by a girl in 2002, when she was 6 months old. Her mother was involved in a relationship with Sartin in Payne County at the time, according to testimony.

That girl, who recovered and is now 10 years old, had “extensive subdural bleeding in the brain that was both old and new,” according to a document filed by McAmis.

Dr. John Steumky, a pediatric specialist who saw that girl at Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, testified that “we felt this child suffered from what we call abusive head trauma.”

Payne County officials filed no criminal charges in connection with that child’s condition, testimony indicated.

Tulsa County prosecutors maintained that evidence of the Payne County matter was admissible at this week’s trial to show “proof of motive, opportunity, intent, plan and identity,” a document states.

Sartin has been in the Tulsa Jail since June 23, 2010. The jury was seated Wednesday in District Judge William Kellough’s court.”

Child-abuse murder trial testimony begins
[Tulsa World 2/17/12 by Bill Braun]

Previous articles:

“Emergency workers had been called about 1:30 p.m. June 13 to a home in the 4000 block of East 25th Street about an unresponsive child who was in cardiac arrest, Willingham said. Jace was taken to a hospital and put on life support.

Officers initially were told that the boy had fallen off his bed, Willingham said.

Jace was diagnosed with severe head injuries and had multiple bruises on his shoulders, thighs, forehead and chin, as well as a broken toe, police said. He died at the hospital June 16.

The toddler was fine when his mother left for work about 10 p.m. June 12, Willingham said. Sartin was watching the child, and police believe that the two were the only people in the home at the time.
Tulsa County prosecutors charged Sartin on Wednesday.

Child Crisis Unit detectives went to Payne County and brought him back to Tulsa, where he was jailed about 9 p.m., Tulsa Jail records show.”

Man arrested, charged with Tulsa boy’s murder
[Tulsa World 6/23/10 by Nicole Marshall]

“Officers arrested Sartin at his sister’s house in Stillwater Wednesday afternoon.

Mother’s Ex-Boyfriend Charged In Death Of Tulsa Boy
[News 6 6/24/10 by Ashli Sims]

“Cody Keith Sartin, 29, is being held in Tulsa County Jail on without bond for first-degree murder.

Burgess filed a protective order against Sartin the night she was at work and Jace was home alone with Sartin.

The affidavit explains exactly what happened the night before Jace died:

“Ms. Burgess fed and bathed the child and put him to bed at 8:30 pm.”

“Ms. Burgess received a text message from the defendant at 11:30 pm stating that the child had fallen out of bed.”

“The Defendant called 9-1-1 to report that the child was found with his eyes half open and his breathing was not normal.”

Tests revealed the boy had dozens of bruises all over his body.

“The Defendant inflicted abusive injuries on the child which led to the child’s death.”

Tulsa Police Child Crisis also reporting Sartin was a suspect in another baby injury in Payne County.Court records show the mother of that child filed a protective order against him in March 2003, but charges were dropped.

The mother told FOX23 in an e-mail: “This is not the first baby’s he’s hurt. He gave my daughter shaken baby syndrome when she was 5-months old. Thankfully, she survived.”

Sartin Affidavit Details In Baby’s Death
[Fox 23 6/25/10]

For more information about Jace, visit his memorial blog at http://asecondmiracle.blogspot.com/

REFORM Puzzle Piece