Doctors Testify In Deadly Child Abuse Case

UPDATE: Rutherford is found "Not Guilty"

Several doctors told a Hamilton County jury Wednesday about the severe injuries that took 18-month-old Sierra Carpenter's life.

The toddler was unresponsive and in a coma back in April of 2006 when she was brought to T.C. Thompson's Children's Hospital. After two days of evaluation and treatment in the pediatric intensive care unit Sierra passed away after doctors said "her brain died."

The prosecution's testimony wraps up the second day of the trial for Brian Rutherford, charged with aggravated child neglect and first degree murder. Sierra's mother, Traci Carpenter, is also charged with aggravated child neglect. The two were dating back in the spring of 2006.

Hamilton County Sheriff's Office investigators said while Carpenter was taking a shower in her Middle Valley apartment Rutherford grabbed the unconscious Sierra and took her to a nearby fire station. Firefighters there began CPR and within minutes a Med Trans LifeForce helicopter flew Sierra to Children's Hospital.

Dr. Greg Talbot, a pediatric specialist at Children's PICU, said examinations, tests and CT scans quickly revealed Sierra had severe brain injuries. The scans showed the child's brain was swelling and filling with blood from traumatic injuries.

On the outside of her head Dr. Talbot said "she had multiple bruises over the crown of her head and forehead, brown in color and she had a fresh bruise in the mid-forehead."

Dr. Talbot told the jury Sierra also had injuries to both ears that showed signs of bleeding. "Ear bruising in children is highly suspicious for abusive injury, particularly when it's on both sides because the mechanism is thought to be boxing of the ears."

Hamilton County Medical Examiner Dr. Frank King testified the ear injuries were consistent with someone pinching, pulling or twisting Sierra's ears.

Dr. Talbot described Sierra's brain injuries as resulting from "rotational injury head trauma." He said it was the result of being severely shaken or jerked.

Dr. King explained that kind of injury actually causes the brain to move around inside the skull "causing twisting forces to occur and actually injure brain cells and it causes the brain to swell."

Dr. Jefferson Bowers, an opthamologist who works ar Erlanger's emergency department, said after reviewing pictures made by a machine that looks inside eyes he found that the retina lining in Sierra's eyes had been torn and had been bleeding.

Dr. King also said Sierra was bruised from blunt force trauma on her thighs, an arm and her chest.

The trial is expected to continue Friday, Saturday and into next week.