MATTHEW CHENG and JOHN WENNINGER - (2010) Muncie IN
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MATTHEW CHENG and JOHN WENNINGER - (2010) Muncie IN
by TomTerrific0420 on Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:24 am
MUNCIE -- Police now believe
babysitter Tina Byrd lied about the circumstances surrounding both
deaths of infant boys in her home over an 11-week period.A
day after she was preliminarily charged with neglect, obstruction of
justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice in the Jan. 19 death of
infant Matthew Cheng, police on Thursday said they intended to charge
Byrd, 43, with obstruction of justice in the Nov. 3 death of four-month
old John K. Wenninger.Delaware County Coroner James Clevenger Jr. ruled Wenninger's death as an undetermined cause or Sudden Unexpected Infant Death.Byrd
allegedly lied about finding the Wenninger infant downstairs in a crib,
police say. One of Wenninger's eight children found the baby upstairs,
according to police.
Police Capt. Mark Vollmar said Byrd apparently coached her children to lie
about both deaths and there was evidence that she obstructed the
Wenninger death investigation."These parents have a right to know how their children died," Vollmar said.Police
say they still do not know who actually found the lifeless body of
Matthew Cheng last week. Byrd and her 19-year-old daughter, Kassandra,
tell conflicting stories. Kassandra is also facing obstruction charges
in Matthew's death."I am not a horrible person," Kassandra told jail intake officers on Tuesday. "I was just trying to protect my mom."Kassandra Byrd told police that she came home the day of the baby's death and found her mother and younger sister gone.Vollmar would not say whether Kassandra found Matthew in the few minutes she was home before her mother arrived.A cause of death is still weeks away as Clevenger's office awaits toxicology and lab work.[Police
say they have no evidence at this point that Byrd left John Wenninger
alone like she did Matthew Cheng when she went to pick up her child at
school and visit a local drug store.Police
Sgt. Linda Cook recalled how Byrd was emotional and crying throughout
the interview following John's death. She told police she was in the
midst of a divorce and her husband was behind thousands of dollars in
support for their eight children."One thing that stands out, ... there were lots of stressors in her life," said Cook.Byrd
was caring for her ailing, elderly father, who recently died in an
Anderson hospital. She was unemployed and was taking babysitting jobs
to earn extra money.Byrd
told police she put an ad on Craig's List for daycare and was contacted
by the Wenningers, who attended Westminister Presbyterian Church where
Byrd and her family worshipped. She had been babysitting John about
three weeks before he died in her home.Child
Protective Services allowed Byrd's ex-husband, Kenneth S. Byrd, to take
custody of her seven other children who continue to live in the house,
at 3301 W. Noel Drive, where the two infants died.Police
and church officials also confirmed Kenneth Byrd returned from
Indianapolis to take care of his children, and Westminister issued a
statement assuring their members that the Byrd children were being
properly cared for this week.Dr. Gary Cox, senior pastor, explained the church family was deeply grieved by the recent events involving Byrd and the infants."This has been a great human tragedy that is painful on multiple levels," according to the statement.It
was just last month that Tina Byrd filed a contempt citation against
her husband for failure to pay child support and sign off on a quit
claim deed for the house. Court records indicated Kenneth Byrd owned
$13,486 in back child support. The divorce was final in May 2009.Tina
and Kassandra Byrd remained in jail Thursday awaiting a pre-initial
hearing today before a master commissioner. Tina Byrd is held on
$15,000 bond while her daughter has a $10,000 bond for obstruction and
conspiracy charges.The
prosecutor's office is asking for another 72 hours to file formal
charges as police continue to investigate both infant deaths.
babysitter Tina Byrd lied about the circumstances surrounding both
deaths of infant boys in her home over an 11-week period.A
day after she was preliminarily charged with neglect, obstruction of
justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice in the Jan. 19 death of
infant Matthew Cheng, police on Thursday said they intended to charge
Byrd, 43, with obstruction of justice in the Nov. 3 death of four-month
old John K. Wenninger.Delaware County Coroner James Clevenger Jr. ruled Wenninger's death as an undetermined cause or Sudden Unexpected Infant Death.Byrd
allegedly lied about finding the Wenninger infant downstairs in a crib,
police say. One of Wenninger's eight children found the baby upstairs,
according to police.
Police Capt. Mark Vollmar said Byrd apparently coached her children to lie
about both deaths and there was evidence that she obstructed the
Wenninger death investigation."These parents have a right to know how their children died," Vollmar said.Police
say they still do not know who actually found the lifeless body of
Matthew Cheng last week. Byrd and her 19-year-old daughter, Kassandra,
tell conflicting stories. Kassandra is also facing obstruction charges
in Matthew's death."I am not a horrible person," Kassandra told jail intake officers on Tuesday. "I was just trying to protect my mom."Kassandra Byrd told police that she came home the day of the baby's death and found her mother and younger sister gone.Vollmar would not say whether Kassandra found Matthew in the few minutes she was home before her mother arrived.A cause of death is still weeks away as Clevenger's office awaits toxicology and lab work.[Police
say they have no evidence at this point that Byrd left John Wenninger
alone like she did Matthew Cheng when she went to pick up her child at
school and visit a local drug store.Police
Sgt. Linda Cook recalled how Byrd was emotional and crying throughout
the interview following John's death. She told police she was in the
midst of a divorce and her husband was behind thousands of dollars in
support for their eight children."One thing that stands out, ... there were lots of stressors in her life," said Cook.Byrd
was caring for her ailing, elderly father, who recently died in an
Anderson hospital. She was unemployed and was taking babysitting jobs
to earn extra money.Byrd
told police she put an ad on Craig's List for daycare and was contacted
by the Wenningers, who attended Westminister Presbyterian Church where
Byrd and her family worshipped. She had been babysitting John about
three weeks before he died in her home.Child
Protective Services allowed Byrd's ex-husband, Kenneth S. Byrd, to take
custody of her seven other children who continue to live in the house,
at 3301 W. Noel Drive, where the two infants died.Police
and church officials also confirmed Kenneth Byrd returned from
Indianapolis to take care of his children, and Westminister issued a
statement assuring their members that the Byrd children were being
properly cared for this week.Dr. Gary Cox, senior pastor, explained the church family was deeply grieved by the recent events involving Byrd and the infants."This has been a great human tragedy that is painful on multiple levels," according to the statement.It
was just last month that Tina Byrd filed a contempt citation against
her husband for failure to pay child support and sign off on a quit
claim deed for the house. Court records indicated Kenneth Byrd owned
$13,486 in back child support. The divorce was final in May 2009.Tina
and Kassandra Byrd remained in jail Thursday awaiting a pre-initial
hearing today before a master commissioner. Tina Byrd is held on
$15,000 bond while her daughter has a $10,000 bond for obstruction and
conspiracy charges.The
prosecutor's office is asking for another 72 hours to file formal
charges as police continue to investigate both infant deaths.
TomTerrific0420- Supreme Commander of the Universe With Cape AND Tights AND Fancy Headgear
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Re: MATTHEW CHENG and JOHN WENNINGER - (2010) Muncie IN
by Watcher_of_all on Fri May 14, 2010 2:30 am
MUNCIE, IN - A new investigation is underway involving a Muncie babysitter whose already accused of lying to police.
Tina Byrd faces three felony charges stemming from the death of a four month-old who died in her care. She is accused of leaving the infant alone, and lying to police about what happened. Now, we're hearing that police searched Byrd's west side Muncie home on Friday.
According to the Muncie Star Press, she's the target of a criminal investigation into claims that she stole financial aid money including a student loan her daughter had applied for, to attend Ball State University.
Tina Byrd faces three felony charges stemming from the death of a four month-old who died in her care. She is accused of leaving the infant alone, and lying to police about what happened. Now, we're hearing that police searched Byrd's west side Muncie home on Friday.
According to the Muncie Star Press, she's the target of a criminal investigation into claims that she stole financial aid money including a student loan her daughter had applied for, to attend Ball State University.
Watcher_of_all- Supreme Commander of the Universe With Cape AND Tights AND Fancy Headgear
- Job/hobbies: Hoarder Hunting
Re: MATTHEW CHENG and JOHN WENNINGER - (2010) Muncie IN
by Watcher_of_all on Fri May 14, 2010 2:31 am
Muncie, IN—A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against a babysitter in connection with the death of an infant on Monday March 15, 2010. An area church was also named in the lawsuit after the pastor allegedly referred the babysitter to the deceased infant’s parents and failing to notify them that another infant died under her care less than three months prior to the death of their own baby, according to information provided by TheStarPres.com.
According to the suit, filed in Delaware Circuit Court 4 by parents Younghong Cheng and Hongjun Niu, 4-month-old Matthew Cheng was under the care of 43-year-old babysitter Tina Byrd at her home on January 19, 2010, when she reportedly positioned the infant to sleep on his stomach despite her alleged knowledge of the potential dangers posed in doing so. Byrd then apparently left the child alone in her home for an undisclosed amount of time. After the tragic incident was brought to the attention of police officials, Byrd seemingly proceeded to lie to authorities, concerning her true whereabouts on the day Matthew died in her home. According to the American SIDS Institute, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the “sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history.”
The Westminster Presbyterian Church was also named in the wrongful death suit after Pastor Kris Holroyd seemingly referred the Cheng’s to Byrd though failed to mention a November 3, 2009 incident in which a 9-week-old infant, identified as John Wenninger, died while under her care. Reports also noted that on January 20, 2010, the day after Matthew Cheng died, “Westminster took the highly unusual stop of calling a press conference to deny any link to Byrd, including a denial that church staff provided references to Byrd.”
Byrd faces charges including neglect of a dependent, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice. Reports did not state the extent of compensation being sought out by the distressed parents.
According to the suit, filed in Delaware Circuit Court 4 by parents Younghong Cheng and Hongjun Niu, 4-month-old Matthew Cheng was under the care of 43-year-old babysitter Tina Byrd at her home on January 19, 2010, when she reportedly positioned the infant to sleep on his stomach despite her alleged knowledge of the potential dangers posed in doing so. Byrd then apparently left the child alone in her home for an undisclosed amount of time. After the tragic incident was brought to the attention of police officials, Byrd seemingly proceeded to lie to authorities, concerning her true whereabouts on the day Matthew died in her home. According to the American SIDS Institute, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the “sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history.”
The Westminster Presbyterian Church was also named in the wrongful death suit after Pastor Kris Holroyd seemingly referred the Cheng’s to Byrd though failed to mention a November 3, 2009 incident in which a 9-week-old infant, identified as John Wenninger, died while under her care. Reports also noted that on January 20, 2010, the day after Matthew Cheng died, “Westminster took the highly unusual stop of calling a press conference to deny any link to Byrd, including a denial that church staff provided references to Byrd.”
Byrd faces charges including neglect of a dependent, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice. Reports did not state the extent of compensation being sought out by the distressed parents.
Watcher_of_all- Supreme Commander of the Universe With Cape AND Tights AND Fancy Headgear
- Job/hobbies: Hoarder Hunting
Re: MATTHEW CHENG and JOHN WENNINGER - (2010) Muncie IN
by MililaniGirl on Tue May 03, 2011 2:59 pm
Muncie babysitter sentenced to 6 years for infant's death
A Muncie babysitter learned Tuesday she will spend six years in prison for her role in the death of one of her charges, four-week-old Matthew Cheng.
By Gene Cox
Fox59
1:01 p.m. EDT, September 28, 2010
Muncie, Ind.— A Muncie babysitter learned Tuesday she will spend six years in prison for her role in the death of one of her charges, four-week-old Matthew Cheng.
Earlier this month, Tina Byrd admitted leaving the baby unattended in her home the afternoon he died. Byrd pleaded guilty to Neglect of a Dependent and Obstruction of Justice. As part of her plea deal, a third charge of Conspiracy To Obstruct Justice was dismissed.
A Delaware County judge sentenced her to serve three years on one count and three years on another. She'll serve them consecutively. On the stand, Byrd made a tearful apology to the family of Matthew Cheng.
Police said surveillance video showed Byrd shopping less than 30 minutes before she reported finding the baby unresponsive. She had originally told police she was home at the time.
Byrd and her 19-year-old daughter were arrested in January, one week after the four-week-old died.
Byrd also faces unrelated felony charges for allegedly stealing financial aid money that her daughter received for college.
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-muncie-babystter-sentenced-092810,0,1789235.story
A Muncie babysitter learned Tuesday she will spend six years in prison for her role in the death of one of her charges, four-week-old Matthew Cheng.
By Gene Cox
Fox59
1:01 p.m. EDT, September 28, 2010
Muncie, Ind.— A Muncie babysitter learned Tuesday she will spend six years in prison for her role in the death of one of her charges, four-week-old Matthew Cheng.
Earlier this month, Tina Byrd admitted leaving the baby unattended in her home the afternoon he died. Byrd pleaded guilty to Neglect of a Dependent and Obstruction of Justice. As part of her plea deal, a third charge of Conspiracy To Obstruct Justice was dismissed.
A Delaware County judge sentenced her to serve three years on one count and three years on another. She'll serve them consecutively. On the stand, Byrd made a tearful apology to the family of Matthew Cheng.
Police said surveillance video showed Byrd shopping less than 30 minutes before she reported finding the baby unresponsive. She had originally told police she was home at the time.
Byrd and her 19-year-old daughter were arrested in January, one week after the four-week-old died.
Byrd also faces unrelated felony charges for allegedly stealing financial aid money that her daughter received for college.
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-muncie-babystter-sentenced-092810,0,1789235.story
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