Mother: I was 'too shocked' to call 9-1-1
OREGON CITY, Ore. — Testimony is nearing an end in the manslaughter trial of an Oregon City couple whose church reportedly rejects conventional medicine and whose daughter died last year.
Carl Brent Worthington and Raylene Worthington are accused in the March 2008 death of 15-month-old Ava Worthington. Monday's testimony appeared to contradict the mother's previous story about her sick daughter.
Raylene Worthington, who was the final defense witness, testified Monday she was still trying to "get her head around" her daughter's death. She said she doesn't remember details of what she told detectives after the girl died, and that she never expected her daughter to die.
The mother explained why some of her answers now don't match what she told detectives in the hours and days after Ava died by saying that she "was exhausted, and shocked, and it wasn't a good state of mind to try answering questions."
Prosecutors contend the Worthington's underfed their child for months and failed to call 9-1-1 when Ava stopped breathing. Ava's mother testified that she did not call 9-1-1, or ask anyone to call 9-1-1, because she was so upset: "She was doing so much better that it really shocked me," Raylene said. "I don't even think I could think right then, you know."
Prosecutors called rebuttal witnesses who testified that anyone in the same situation would have known Ava Worthington needed medical help.
"She stopped breathing and even at that point no medical care is sought," testified Dr. Dan Leonhardt, a pediatrician and child abuse expert at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. "That's why ... I'm diagnosing medical neglect, really fatal medical neglect."
Another pediatrician who testified for the prosecution countered defense assertions that there is no evidence the lump on Ava's neck choked off her breathing. She said that a child's trachea is softer than an adult's trachea. As the lump on Ava's throat kept growing, it would have allowed less and less air through the airway until Ava was finally unable to breathe at all.
With closing arguments still to come in this trial, the case could go to the jury for a verdict by mid-week.
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.