Erie Times-News (PA)
STEPFATHER CHARGED IN DEATH OF CHILD
December 5, 1998
Tag: 1998339037
BYLINE: JOHN GUERRIERO
Erie Police officers escort homicide defendant Michael Meyner from his
arraignment at the Erie County Courthouse to the Erie County Prison.
"New World Order" is inscribed on the front of Meyner's T-shirt. The
back of the shirt carries the inscription, "No Mercy," and the
initials "NWO."
The stepfather of 2-month-old Britni LeAne Meyner told police that
he caused the head injury that led to the infant's death by throwing
her against a closet door, a police affidavit alleges.
Investigators prepared the affidavit to support criminal charges
they filed Friday against Michael Meyner, 32, of Erie. Meyner is
charged with homicide, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a
child and recklessly endangering another person.
Meyner, wearing a black T-shirt, shorts and sneakers, was arraigned
on the charges late Friday afternoon before Erie 2nd Ward District
Justice Paul Urbaniak. The magistrate scheduled a tentative preliminary
hearing for Dec. 11 and sent Meyner to Erie County Prison without bond.
Erie County forensic pathologist Eric Vey's autopsy of the child on
Nov. 29 showed she suffered blunt force trauma to the head, including
brain injury and two skull fractures, the affidavit of probable cause
states. The autopsy also showed the infant suffered other "whiplash
type injuries" and a fractured right arm.
Meyner told investigators that he threw the baby against a closet
door in the living room of their home at 1822 Buffalo Road, Apt. C4, on
Nov. 22, the affidavit alleges. The child died on Nov. 28.
"The defendant admitted that when he propelled the child that the
child struck her head upon the door and the infant dropped to the
floor," Erie police detective Bonnie Cramer and Lt. Stanley Walkiewicz
of the Erie County Detectives wrote in the affidavit.
Meyner said he heard the child's arm "pop" during the alleged
assault and he saw blood coming from the infant's nose, according to
the affidavit. He removed the child's soiled one-piece sleeper and
washed it in the family's washing machine.
"The defendant attempted to demonstrate how he threw the child
resulting in the injuries but admitted that he did propel the child
harder than he demonstrated," the affidavit alleges.
Investigators said they recorded the demonstration during a
videotaped interview of Meyner on Dec. 1.
The baby suffered the injuries while the mother, Alicia Meyner, 25,
slept in an upstairs bedroom, according to the affidavit. The suspect
admitted that he alone was responsible for the injuries, the document
alleges.
Alicia Meyner called an ambulance for the child, said Mark Watts,
chief county detective. Alicia Meyner and the defendant are married,
investigators said.
Watts declined to say whether it was blood or some other substance
that had soiled the infant's clothing.
Saint Vincent Health Center medical personnel called Erie police on
Nov. 22 to tell the bureau that it was treating the infant for severe
head trauma injuries, the affidavit states. The injuries were so
serious that a medical helicopter transferred the baby to Children's
Hospital in Pittsburgh, where the infant died on Nov. 28, according to
the document.
The Allegheny County Coroner's Office on Friday ruled the infant's
death a homicide due to blunt force head trauma.
The affidavit also alleges that investigators collected evidence
from the apartment on Nov. 24 after getting a search warrant. That
evidence included a closet door with suspected human blood, the
affidavit alleges.
The next day, investigators got the infant's sleeper from the
washing machine where the defendant allegedly had placed it, according
to the affidavit.
District Attorney Joe Conti said it's too early to say whether his
office will seek the death penalty. He wants to review medical evidence
before making that decision.
Conti and the investigators declined to reveal a possible motive
for the killing.
The defendant remained silent while reporters asked him questions
about the crime after his arraignment. He quietly answered, "No,"
when Urbaniak asked him during the brief court proceeding if he had any
questions about his constitutional rights.
No attorney represented Meyner at the arraignment.
Investigators arrested Meyner at his apartment Friday without
incident.
Conti said it's always difficult to investigate homicides. "It's
even more so when you're dealing with an infant," he said.
The baby, who was born Sept. 22 in Erie, was buried on Tuesday at
Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.
Conti said the Erie police and the Erie County Detectives, a branch
of the district attorney's office, worked together on the
investigation.
Besides Cramer, Walkiewicz and Watts, Erie police detective Nate
Jones and county detective Joe Spusta investigated the case.
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