tool name

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Grandfather of dead toddler regrets not reporting bruise

BOY DIED NEXT DAY; MOM CHARGED

Harry Johnson said that he never saw his daughter Amanda "fly off the handle" with her 23-month-old son.

But the Laurel County grandfather said he is haunted by what he did see on little Stephen Troy's back the night before he died last week: "A fist-sized bruise" that was explained away with a story about the toddler falling.

Now, Harry Johnson's daughter — Stephen's mother — is charged with murder and first-degree criminal abuse. Amanda Johnson, 21, is being held in the Laurel County jail on a $250,000 bond. She pleaded not guilty Monday in Laurel District Court.

Harry Johnson said that an autopsy report showed that the morning after he saw the bruise, the boy was struck on the abdomen with such force that it ruptured his small intestine and he bled to death. Laurel County Coroner Doug Bowling confirmed that the child died of severe abdominal injuries. Laurel District Court records say that he was "killed by blunt force trauma to stomach as a result of physical abuse."

After Harry Johnson saw the bruise on Stephen's back, he said, he remembered other injuries that had been blamed on the toddler's falling. He said he told family members that Stephen should not go back to the house where he was staying with his mother and her boyfriend.

Emergency medical workers rushed Stephen to a hospital in London about 9 a.m. Friday after he was found unresponsive at Amanda Johnson's boyfriend's home. The boy died about an hour later.

Harry Johnson says he is filled with regret that he did not take action after seeing the bruise.

He said Monday in a telephone interview from his home in London that his tragedy was a lesson for other grandparents.

"Even if it's your daughter, even if she hates you, go ahead and call authorities," he said.

Harry Johnson said that as far as he knows, complaints about Stephen's treatment had never been made to Cabinet for Health and Family Services social workers.

"Witness statements and the medical examiner's office," the arrest citation said, "indicates subject has abused her 23-month-old child over a period of time."

The report noted that Stephen had fractures to the left leg and several bruises.

Harry Johnson said that someone other than his daughter could have had a hand in Stephen's death.

Kentucky State Police. Trooper Don Trosper said no charges have been filed against anyone else.

Harry Johnson said that his daughter was a waitress at Cracker Barrel restaurant in London.

Funeral services for Stephen will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Bowling Funeral Home in London. Visitation is after 11 a.m. Thursday.