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A mother accused of reckless homicide in the death of her daughter crushed a muscle relaxer pill and mixed it with milk in a bottle, a witness testified Tuesday.
Kristina Crooks, 20, accused of neglect and neglect causing death, is on trial in Kosciusko Circuit Court for the death of her 11-month-old daughter, Lois Marie Ozenbaugh, on Jan. 24, 1997.
Steven Iden Jr., who lived in the trailer with Crooks and her boyfriend, Steven Iden Sr., testified that he saw Crooks put a muscle relaxer pill in a bottle of milk she fed to Lois several days before the infant's death.
Steven and his brother Cory testified that they did much of the work around the house and cared for Lois while Crooks was out of the home.
However, the defense pointed out that Iden did not tell police about the incident until Oct. 24, 1997, after Crooks broke off her relationship with his father. He also testified that two friends of the family visited Jan. 23, 1997, the night before Lois' death, and may have had Valium in their possession.
Other witnesses testified to the "deplorable" and "filthy" conditions of the trailer where Crooks, her two daughters, Iden and his two sons were living. Kosciusko County Coroner Larry Ladd testified that there was a cigarette butt and a cockroach even in the blanket Lois' body was wrapped in to take her to the hospital.
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Det. Sgt. Thomas Brindle said there were many things in the home that seemed hazardous to children, including the two kerosene heaters used to heat the trailer.
Brindle also testifed that Crooks' initial statement told him she saw Lois had two cigarettes in her mouth the day before the child was found dead. Crooks said she took them away and wiped her mouth, not realizing Lois may have swallowed others.
When the prosecutor showed the sheriff's video of Lois' body and the room it was found in, Kristina began to cry audibly and uncontrollably and could not watch.
Radiologist Steven Hossler testified that initial X-rays showed that soft tissue seemed to be pushing Lois' airway forward, which may have caused her trachea to close. Hossler went on to say he believed the abnormality was a result of Lois' position during the X-rays. The X-rays themselves are not available because they were lost during transit. CT-scans and the actual autopsy revealed nothing abnormal.
Forensic pathologist Scott Wagner said that bruising on Lois' body "troubled him." One bruise on her right leg was a deep hemorrhage into the soft tissue and muscle inflammation caused by a blunt force injury. Lois also had head bruises that went through the scalp tissue almost to bone.
Wagner testified that Lois' trachea was filled with vomit, and he said any foreign object in the stomach, such as cigarettes, would cause irritation, nausea and vomiting. He said that Valium in the toxic range was found in Lois' blood and would have affected Lois' capacity to handle vomit.
"The drug could intoxicate the brain and normal mechanism of vomiting would not work," Wagner said. "Valium did not allow the vomit to be cleared out of the respiratory track."
Under defense cross-examination, Wagner revealed that Lois showed mild bronchitis that could have restricted her airway if it was severe. He also said that there could have been other reasons for vomiting such as the flu or something she ate. The defense also pointed out that the majority of children who swallow foreign objects do not die.
Testimony from Michael Evans, who tested Lois' blood, revealed the blood contained Valium and a metabolized version of the drug. He said that the level of the drug found in the 20-pound child was approximately a 10 mg. pill, which is a full-sized adult dose. He said that Lois' brain would be more sensitive and receptive to the sedative because of her age and size. He also testified the drug would impair vomit reflex. Evans said that the drug would be at a peak several hours after it was taken.
The prosecution rested its case this morning. Vicki Dittman, who with her husband, David, had filed for legal guardianship of Lois, was the prosecution's last witness today.
The defense was scheduled to begin presenting witnesses late this morning.
