Mom of 4
May 6th, 2008, 12:34 AM
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A Northern Kentucky mother faces new charges in connection with the death of her 1- year-old son.
Melissa Goodwin of Morning View, initially charged with criminal abuse, now faces a charge of complicity to murder in the Oct. 20, 2006 death of her son, Tristan Bowman. Her boyfriend, Aaron Combs, already faces that charge and is being held in the Kenton County Jail.
"We think the evidence is substantial enough to show she was complicit in the case enough that prevented the child from getting the care that could have saved the child's life," said Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders.
The 1-year-old boy stopped breathing on the morning of Oct. 20, 2006 while at his home on Camp Road in Morning View. Combs ran to a neighbor's house to get help.
Authorities said the toddler suffered massive head trauma and died from his injuries at the hospital. They charged Combs with complicity to murder and Goodwin with criminal abuse.
After further investigation, prosecutors now believe the little boy suffered injuries prior to the day of his death.
Court documents said the 1-year-old showed signs of shaken-baby syndrome, in addition to numerous facial bruises and an unhealed broken leg.
"I'm sorry that it happened and it really breaks my heart and I've got a grandbaby right now who's five months old," said Treevia Combs, an aunt of Aaron Combs.
She questioned Goodwin's decision as a mother to leave her son with a man she had only been dating a few months.
"My opinion, she shouldn't left him. She should have been responsible instead of leaving him with someone who had no understanding of taking care of a child period," she said.
Goodwin will face a judge next week. She is due to be sentenced on another charge of burglary unrelated to her child's death.
http://www.kypost.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=4b600e90-7832-4d86-a7ca-dfa0f51219db
A Northern Kentucky mother faces new charges in connection with the death of her 1- year-old son.
Melissa Goodwin of Morning View, initially charged with criminal abuse, now faces a charge of complicity to murder in the Oct. 20, 2006 death of her son, Tristan Bowman. Her boyfriend, Aaron Combs, already faces that charge and is being held in the Kenton County Jail.
"We think the evidence is substantial enough to show she was complicit in the case enough that prevented the child from getting the care that could have saved the child's life," said Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders.
The 1-year-old boy stopped breathing on the morning of Oct. 20, 2006 while at his home on Camp Road in Morning View. Combs ran to a neighbor's house to get help.
Authorities said the toddler suffered massive head trauma and died from his injuries at the hospital. They charged Combs with complicity to murder and Goodwin with criminal abuse.
After further investigation, prosecutors now believe the little boy suffered injuries prior to the day of his death.
Court documents said the 1-year-old showed signs of shaken-baby syndrome, in addition to numerous facial bruises and an unhealed broken leg.
"I'm sorry that it happened and it really breaks my heart and I've got a grandbaby right now who's five months old," said Treevia Combs, an aunt of Aaron Combs.
She questioned Goodwin's decision as a mother to leave her son with a man she had only been dating a few months.
"My opinion, she shouldn't left him. She should have been responsible instead of leaving him with someone who had no understanding of taking care of a child period," she said.
Goodwin will face a judge next week. She is due to be sentenced on another charge of burglary unrelated to her child's death.
http://www.kypost.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=4b600e90-7832-4d86-a7ca-dfa0f51219db