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November 11, 2009 in City
Prosecutor reviews boy’s death
Detective recommends charge against father
Gerrin P.R. LaFleur, 4, died in an accident involving a truck near Mount Spokane in August. Photo courtesy of the LaFleur family
(Full-size photo)
Investigators are seeking a vehicular homicide charge against the father of a 4-year-old boy who died near Mount Spokane last summer.
Gerrin P.R. LaFleur died Aug. 19 during a family firewood-gathering trip in the foothills near North Wallis Road and East Elliot Road.
His father, Lester C. LaFleur, told authorities the boy fell from atop his parked 1985 Ford F-250 pickup.
But investigators received conflicting reports of what happened and searched the truck for hair fibers, fingerprints and other evidence to understand the circumstances surrounding the death. An autopsy said the boy died of a bruised and cut right lung, according to court documents.
Spokane County sheriff’s Detective David Thornburg now believes enough evidence has been found to support a vehicular homicide charge against the father.
Thornburg said the boy’s injuries appeared to have been caused when the truck was moving.
The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the detective’s recommendation.
LaFleur, 35, declined to comment through his brother-in-law, Jeremiah Donier, who said the family is being treated unfairly.
“We want the whole community to know that we certainly do care that Gerrin passed way. We feel that it was a tragedy,” Donier said. “People have not talked about it correctly.”
LaFleur called 911 while driving to a fire station and said he thought his son was dead.
One of Gerrin’s older sisters said a branch pulled the boy out of the truck when it was moving.
Another family member said the boy had unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out of the truck.
Detectives found two child-size boot marks on the top of the driver’s side rear bumper.
Human trafficking suspects released 
jdonier on November 20 at 11:53 a.m.
This is nothing more than a witch hunt by the Sheriff’s Office. They are trying to cover their liabilities – their Deputies and 911 Operations. The LaFleurs did all they possibly could to save Gerrin. The media needs to do due diligence and inspect the 911 tapes. If you can, listen or read an unaltered copy. You may find Sheriff’s Office is wrong about what was said. Also, review the autopsy report, consult a doctor about it and you may find the Sheriff’s Office conclusions about this are wrong. The FBI and our legislative leaders have been notified of the Sheriff’s Office questionable actions. The Lafleurs are now they are currently investigating these deeds and consulting with attorneys. If an attorney advises someone to speak for the family regarding this matter, then there will much more to tell. Until then, the Sheriff’s Office statements should be considered mere speculation and not fact.