• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Child homicide trial set to begin

ELKHORN — The trial of an East Troy man charged with first-degree reckless homicide in the 2007 death of his infant daughter begins today before Walworth County Judge James Carlson.

Jason H. Andritsch, 27, of 2178 Clark St., No. 7, is suspected of shaking his almost 1-month-old daughter Naomi on Oct. 7, 2007, while her mother was outside dumping the baby’s bathwater, according to the criminal complaint.

If convicted, Andritsch faces 80 years in prison.

The doctor who examined Naomi’s body said she suffered brain damage consistent with someone picking her up, squeezing and shaking her, according to the complaint.

Naomi’s mother, Tiffany Mielke, said the only time she wasn’t with the child that day was when she went outside to dump some bathwater. She also said when she came back inside she saw Andritsch running with Naomi into the bathroom.

According to the complaint, Mielke went into the bathroom and heard Andritsch saying, “Naomi, wake up.”

Naomi remained limp, so Mielke and Andritsch took her to Waukesha Memorial Hospital, according to the complaint. Naomi was then flown to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, where she died Oct. 13.

An autopsy revealed Naomi had broken ribs that had been healing for a week or two. She also had sustained new rib fractures, retinal hemorrhaging, bleeding in the brain and bruises on her face and hand.

Andritsch denied intentionally harming the baby but admitted he may have injured her by being too rough, according to the complaint.

Andritsch has been in custody since Oct. 8, 2007, and is being held on $100,000 bond.