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Mother Charged With Murder of Burned Baby

Contributor: Shane Myers
Email: smyers@myeyewitnessnews.com
Last Update: 6/19/2009 5:53 pm
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Booking Photo: Karen Kirkwood
Booking Photo: Karen Kirkwood
MEMPHIS, TN – A Memphis woman has been charged with neglect and murder of her 11-month-old baby.

According to a court document, Christopher Kirkwood -- then eight months old -- was severely burned during a suspicious house fire in the 4100 block of Tomahawk, March 2, 2009, around 3:18 a.m.

Investigators say the child’s mother, Karen Kirkwood, was taking care of her son when the fire happened, but did not call the fire department right away. When the child did receive medical help, he had to be airlifted to the Shriner’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio in extremely critical condition for second and third degree burns. A tracheal tube had to be inserted into Christopher’s throat because of smoke inhalation and other injuries. Christopher also had to have a splint on his right hand because it was burned so badly.

The court document says Christopher was later transferred to Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis on April 25th, where Karen Kirkwood received training to take care of her son’s burns and tracheal tube.

On May 25th, police say paramedics were called to Kirkwood’s home around 7:30 a.m. According to the court document, Christopher was pronounced dead at 8:27 a.m.

An autopsy was preformed and it was determined that the baby suffocated because his tracheal tube was blocked, authorities said.

Authorities say investigators learned that Karen Kirkwood would leave the baby alone for long periods of time and was not caring for his wounds and breathing tube as instructed by the doctor. According to investigators, Kirkwood was supposed to be using a machine she was given to monitor the baby’s breathing. An alarm would sound if he stopped breathing. Investigators say the alarm was not on between 1:00 a.m. and the time the baby died.

Eyewitness News Reporter Tenikka Smith spoke with Karen Kirkwood's older sister, Laquita Jones.  Tenikka asked Jones if she felt that her sister did enough to take care of Christopher.  Jones said, "I feel like she could have done more but she was a good mother.  You know she just had a lot of stress on her at the time she's going through a lot with her baby burned like that and the reaction from people...when we go in public places I believe it was affecting her mentally."  Jones added, "She don't deserve to be locked up her baby just died."

Karen Kirkwood has been charged with First Degree Murder and Aggravated Child Abuse/Neglect.
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