Braxton Williamson, 20, faces an aggravated battery charge over the death of 15-month-old Ivory Brogdon, but prosecutors in Illinois may pursue more serious charges, according to prosecutors who said the toddler barely lasted an hour in the care of her mother’s boyfriend. Online court records show that the autopsy on Ivory concluded on Aug. 14, though the defense received more time to review the results before Ivory’s body was released to her family.
Christian County State’s Attorney John McWard told local ABC affiliate WICS in an interview that the autopsy listed a cause of death, but the state wanted to confirm more medical evidence before deciding whether to charge Williamson with first-degree murder.
WICS covered Williamson’s hearing on Monday, where prosecutors said he was watching Ivory and her 2-year-old sister while the girls’ mother worked on the night of July 31. Their mother, Melony Newingham, dated Williamson. The Christian County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a 911 call at 8:45 p.m. about a baby who had suffered injuries after a fall. Police said further investigation determined “it was determined that the reported fall could not have caused all of the infant’s injuries.”
Ivory died on Aug. 3, days after arriving at the hospital with severe head trauma. Doctors kept her on life support after her family chose to donate her organs.
During Monday’s hearing, prosecutors said Williamson had watched the girls for an hour when Ivory started having trouble breathing. McWard told WICS that he believed Ivory suffered from shaken baby syndrome, allegedly at Williamson’s hands.
McWard told WICS, “We’re looking at the strains of the eyes, strain meaning, like, if the eyes were under pressure as well as the alleged fracture to the back of the skull and then its impact on the brain.”
Detectives reportedly testified that when Williamson reported Ivory’s injuries, he said she fell down two steps, or about 20 inches. McWard said a skull fracture could have caused Ivory’s injuries, such as hemorrhaging and bruising, but investigators needed more information to determine whether such a fall could have caused the fracture itself.
Williamson remains in custody at the Christian County Jail, where he is being held without bond after the court considered him a danger to the community. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 1.
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