In brief: Couple held in death of malnourished infant
A young Spokane couple is facing murder charges in the death of their malnourished 3-month-old daughter.
Katrina Lauderdale was born in Oregon with a cleft palate, which meant she required special feeding procedures. Doctors counseled the couple on how to feed their baby, and she was seen regularly by a doctor.
But when Charles and Deidre Lauderdale, both 20, moved with their baby to Spokane last November, the doctor visits stopped, according to a Spokane police affidavit posted on KREM TV’s Web site. The couple, who relocated to find work, later told police they had no health insurance.
On Jan. 8, Charles Lauderdale called 911 when Katrina was unresponsive, the documents state. The baby, who was 12 weeks old and weighed slightly less than at birth, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Katrina had been put to bed in her car seat with a bottle propped up by a blanket, according to the document.
According to the national Cleft Palate Foundation, many babies born with the condition cannot breast-feed. Even with specially designed bottles, a baby with a cleft palate fares best when fed in the upright position to prevent formula from coming through the baby’s nose.
It’s a time-consuming process that requires constant attention, according to the foundation’s Web page. “Eventually, feeding time should be no more than 30 minutes for 2-3 ounces,” it says.
The Spokane County Jail roster shows that Charles and Deidre Lauderdale were booked into jail Tuesday on suspicion second-degree murder. Bail is $150,000 apiece.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner
Pete lawyer files lawsuit against Olsen, police
A Chicago attorney with success in suing police departments filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of Shonto Pete, the man shot by an off-duty Spokane police officer in February.
The suit filed by attorney Blake Horwitz claims Officer Jay Olsen used excessive force when he fired five shots, hitting Pete once in the head. It also claims Pete was falsely arrested for car theft.
It names Olsen and the Spokane Police Department as defendants.
The confrontation between Pete and Olsen began in the early hours of Feb. 26. Pete says he was looking for a ride home after the bars closed. Olsen, who was ending his own evening of drinking at a downtown bar, says Pete stole his pickup.
The confrontation ended with Olsen chasing Pete into the Peaceful Valley neighborhood, where the shooting occurred. Olsen is scheduled to stand trial next month for first-degree assault and reckless endangerment.
A Spokane jury acquitted Pete of car theft in October.
Spokane City Attorney Jim Craven had not yet seen the lawsuit, said city spokeswoman Marlene Feist.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner