| Kitsapsun.com
Mother Pleads
Innocent in Boy's Death
By Derek
Sheppard, DSHEPPARD@KITSAPSUN.COM
August 28, 2006
PORT ORCHARD
Kimberly A. Forder, 44, pleaded
innocent to homicide by abuse and first-degree manslaughter today at
3 p.m. in Kitsap County Superior Court. She is being held at Kitsap
County jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
"A young boy died at the hands whom
society had entrusted with his care," Kitsap County Sheriff Steve
Boyer told reporters today." It went beyond abuse - it was torture."
Forder's adopted son, Christopher
M. Forder, 8, of Seabeck died of pneumonia in 2002 after repeatedly
being abused, Boyer said at a 1 p.m. press conference at the Kitsap
County Courthouse. Christopher had not received medical care.
The family reportedly had five
adopted children in addition to three biological children at the
time of Christopher's death. Boyer said there was a pattern of abuse
among all the adopted children, but the abuse fell particularly hard
on Christopher.
While conducting the autopsy on the
boy, the forensic pathologist noted bruising over his entire body.
"This was surely indicative of
physical abuse," Boyer said.
The sheriff's office had been
working on the case 45 months without enough witness corroboration
to make an arrest - until recently.
Boyer said authorities had a
breakthrough recently, "although a sad one."
The first break came July 12.
Deputies went to family's home on Four Wheel Drive to investigate
the family's oldest son in connection with a sexual assault. During
that investigation they determined the parents and seven adopted
children had left for Liberia, Africa.
On Aug. 9 the sheriff's office
received a referral report from child protective services in Oregon.
In that report the oldest biological daughter came forward with
information about Christopher's death.
Last week the sheriff's office
learned that Kimberly Forder was returning to the U.S. from Liberia
for medical treatment. They contacted her in Medford, Ore., and she
agreed to come back to Kitsap County. She arrived on Saturday and
was booked into jail.
The investigation remains open,
Boyer said.
The biological children are in the
U.S., Boyer said. The father, Robert Forder, remains in Liberia with
the seven adopted children.
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