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Published:
September 09, 2006
Arrest made in child death
Foster parent
charged with capital murder
By Janet Jacobs
Beverly G. Latimer,
53, has been arrested and charged with capital murder in the death
of a 16-month-old infant in her north Corsicana foster home Monday.
State law allows capital murder, punishable by death, in cases where
the victim is younger than 6 years old.
The accused foster mother was arrested Friday afternoon and remains
in the Navarro County Justice Center in lieu of $750,000 bond.
Police investigators Greg Cloud and Becky Simpson spent the week
gathering evidence and gathering statements in the case, said
Corsicana Police Chief GM Cox.
“The death was more or less instantaneous, so it had to be at that
residence in the custody of Beverly Latimer,” Cox said.
“The autopsy itself was very compelling in this case,” Cox
explained. “Our biggest concern (was) was this an accident? Could
the injuries have been sustained prior to being placed in this home?
All of these were questions that needed to be answered before we
went out and filed criminal charges.”
Latimer has not made any statement to police, but her attorney,
Leigh Ann Schenk of Arlington, said her client is innocent, and that
police are rushing to conclusions.
“All of the autopsy’s not in yet,” Schenk said in a phone interview.
“I think when it comes in you’ll find out this baby had a previous
head injury when she (Latimer) got it, and I’m not talking about a
bruise on his ear. My opinion is they may have jumped the gun.”
Latimer’s only criminal history consists of four hot checks, two
from 1980, and two from 1994, according to Texas Department of
Public Safety records.
The case has not yet been sent to the Criminal District Attorney’s
office, but Steve Keathley is anticipating taking it before the
grand jury in September or October for indictment.
“An October setting may be more realistic because this is a
potential capital murder,” Keathley said. “We want to make sure all
the I’s are dotted and the T’s crossed before presenting it to the
grand jury.”
If Latimer is indicted, it will be the first capital murder case
Keathley has presented to a grand jury, and the first in Navarro
County since 2002, he said.
Latimer and Mesa Family Services, the agency that licensed her as a
foster parent, are also under investigation by the Department of
Family and Protective Services, also known as Child Protective
Services.
“Our investigation is on-going,” said Marissa Gonzales with DFPS.
“We’re talking to some of the other children in the home, trying to
make sure we gather as much information about the home.”
Latimer was licensed in March 2005, and in the last year and a half
11 children have been in her care, Gonzales said.
Only one other allegation of abuse, from 2005, has been filed about
Latimer with CPS, but it was dismissed following an investigation,
Gonzales said.
At the time of the toddler’s death, Latimer had five foster
children, all under the age of 5, including the boy’s 3-year-old
brother. All have been removed to other foster homes.
Latimer’s lawyer remains convinced of her client’s innocence, but
she won’t be making her arguments in court.
“I’ve never done a capital murder case. I’m stepping down,” Schenk
said. “She’s filing for a court-appointed lawyer.”
Schenk was a private investigator and investigator with Child
Protective Services before becoming a lawyer.
“I believe in her innocence,” Schenk added. “My hope is to go ahead
and continue to help them (Latimer’s court-appointed defense team),
either as an investigator or expert, whatever they need.”
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Janet Jacobs may be contacted via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com
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