Jury finds Brodhead man guilty in shaken baby death
MONROE — Amy Uptegraw cried and was led out of the courtroom when it was announced Saturday afternoon that a jury found Casey Shelton guilty of first-degree reckless homicide in the death of their son, Christopher.
“Justice was served for Christopher,” Uptegraw said later, her eyes red from tears. “The jury did a good job and they made a good decision.”
Shelton, 32, of Brodhead faces up to 60 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled March 18.
The jury, after almost nine hours of deliberation that began about 8:15 p.m. Friday, determined Shelton caused the death of his 2-month-old son.
He was alone with the couple’s twin boys Feb. 28, 2007, when about 6:30 p.m. he called 911 for an ambulance to come to the residence in Decatur Township because Christopher had stopped breathing.
Shelton said the baby began choking as he was being fed.
Christopher was pronounced dead later that night at Mercy Hospital in Janesville.
The jury had been sent home at 1:15 a.m. Saturday. Deliberations resumed at 10 a.m. Saturday, and the verdict was delivered about 2 p.m.
Green County Assistant District Attorney Jeff Kohl said the long deliberation meant the jury was working hard to return with a unanimous verdict. In criminal cases, all 12 jurors must be in agreement.
“The jury treated it seriously and took its time to come to the correct decision,” Kohl said.
The weeklong trial included testimony from two forensic pathologists who viewed the cause of Christopher’s death in very different terms.
Dr. Robert Corliss, a pathologist from UW-Madison, said Christopher died of a brain injury that occurred shortly before his death. He said Christopher suffered from bleeding on both sides of his brain, which is common in babies who have been shaken.
Dr. John Plunkett, who testified for the defense, said Christopher’s injury could have taken place earlier, suggesting someone other than Shelton caused Christopher’s death.
Shelton also faces charges in connections to injuries sustained by Christopher’s twin brother, Charles. A three-day trial for those charges is scheduled to begin Feb. 4.
Shelton is charged with two felony counts of child abuse. He faces up to 16 years in prison and up to $25,000, if convicted. He remains jailed on a $100,000 cash bond.
Feb 5, 2009 at 4:54 p.m.
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Those babies were born 4 days before my daughter I remember this well when it happened and Amy should be charged with reckless endangerment she said she could not get away from him but still left her children with him. She also worked as a waitress or something like that where she deals with the public she could have told the police at any time. She is just as guilty I think.
Jan 20, 2009 at 9:39 p.m.
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I'm waiting for Amy's turn. Doing nothing to protect her children is certainly the worst form of abuse! She could easily have gone to the authorities for help, but chose not to. Also, to Reilly_202, I doubt that the children in Amy's mother's care are doing well - they raised Amy, and see how that turned out? Since she does not have custody of any of her children, it is obvious they did not do too well at it. Sad, sad, sad
Jan 20, 2009 at 8:05 p.m.
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Charles is still under doctors care for the injuries he suffered to begin with SHAKEN BABY SYDROME dont end when it is discovered (If the child survives) it is a complicated injury as were some of the other ones he had.
Jan 19, 2009 at 3:11 p.m.
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I've been following this story the last few days and now it looks as if Amy's mother has custody or something of two of Amy's children. CCAP shows support/maintenance actions. Hopefully this is a better environment for those kids and they will be safe.
Jan 19, 2009 at 2:46 p.m.
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Yea, cuz she was a victim of having two innocent children and an idiot boyfriend that she had no clue had to handle.
Jan 19, 2009 at 11:13 a.m.
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She was crying cuz she was playing the "poor, innocent victim" card.
Jan 19, 2009 at 9 a.m.
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frusion- I couldn't have said it better myself!
Jan 19, 2009 at 8:51 a.m.
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And beeferer, I HOPE Tyrone, Gonzo, and Bubba take it nice and SLOW!
Jan 19, 2009 at 8:37 a.m.
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While he's in prison Karma will get him . Or Bubba will. Or Gonzo. Or his friend Tyrone.
Jan 19, 2009 at 8:29 a.m.
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When is the worthless mother`s court hearing?
Jan 19, 2009 at 8:04 a.m.
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I just want to know what a guy with 9 previous felony charges was still doing free to walk the streets to keep repeating abuse to others
Jan 18, 2009 at 10:56 p.m.
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If she was aware of it and allowing it to occur, yes, she should be charged with being an accessory to a crime.
Jan 18, 2009 at 10:54 p.m.
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The two sentences are different... the 60 years is for the one death and the 16 years would be for the abuse. They can be served at the same time or one after the other. From what I know of criminal law, that is how I interpreted it.
Jan 18, 2009 at 9:56 p.m.
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Which is it? 16 years or 60?
Jan 18, 2009 at 8:47 p.m.
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a slap on the hand sentence. minimum should have been LIFE without parolle
Jan 18, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.
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Have you seen his criminal record??? Stalking, 2nd degree sexual assault using force, domestic abuse, battery, the list goes on..
http://wcca.wicourts.gov/pager.do;jsessi...
Jan 18, 2009 at 11 a.m.
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And why isn't she being charged??????? IF this was going on SHE KNEW ABOUT IT???????????
Jan 18, 2009 at 10:53 a.m.
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You don't even know!!!!! Why has Charles been taken to the hospital since Casey has been in jail for head tramua??????? He couldn't have done it, he was under lock and key! This case makes me sick because this little boy lost his life and as if it isn't hard enough for a parent to lose their child, he is accused of being the cause of it. I wish they would investigate more instead of just going with what the first person says. What happens if Charles dies? Is it Casey's fault then???????? Even though he is locked up. Then maybe they will believe what he is saying!
Jan 18, 2009 at 10:46 a.m.
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I hope he gets the max amount of time in prison.
Jan 18, 2009 at 10:32 a.m.
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These are the 2007 stories from the Gazette:
http://www.gazetteextra.com/shelton05150...
http://www.gazetteextra.com/shelton06140...
http://www.gazetteextra.com/shelton06270...
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Whatever you're implying, gabby06, you weren't in the courtroom and didn't hear the testimony. At the very minimum, Shelton lied to sheriff's deputies from the outset.
Jan 18, 2009 at 12:16 a.m.
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If I remember correctly when this first happened & the gazette reported on it, she was home when it happened. They rode in the ambulance together to the hospital. I don't think justice was served. Maybe I'm to close to the story but something more is/was going on & Casey is getting blamed for it. I hope some day the REAL truth comes out & everyone gets justice in the end.
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