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FALSE ALLEGATIONS IN THE NEWS

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This archive of news articles includes publications that discuss wrongful allegations of child abuse or neglect, medical conditions that present as symptoms of abuse, news regarding child protective services, policy changes, stories about reunification, events and other topics. For any content-related inquiries or suggestions regarding articles in this archive, contact us here

Blaming Melissa

Blaming Melissa

A young Illinois woman is convicted of murder for a toddler in her care. After a nine-hour interrogation and dozens of denials -- is she really guilty?

Erin Moriarty

CBS News – 48 Hours

2/28/15

What Really Happened to Baby Johan?

The father, mother, police, doctors, and hospital records all tell different stories about that night. Does anyone know the truth?

Elizabeth Weil

Matter

2/2/15

Iceland Shaken Baby Syndrome Case Reopened?

Dr. Waney Squier, a professor in neuropathology at Oxford University, stated on RÚV’s news magazine Kastljós on Wednesday that the traditional diagnosis for shaken baby syndrome is obsolete and that the findings of the autopsy of a nine-month-old boy who died in Iceland in 2001, leading to the conviction of a man for accidental manslaughter, was inconclusive.

Iceland Review

Iceland Review

1/16/15

Rejecting shaken baby claim, judge blasts UIHC doc

IOWA CITY, Ia. – A judge has found an Iowa man not guilty of shaking and injuring his newborn baby, sharply criticizing a doctor at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for mishandling the investigation into the child's injuries.

Associated Press

Iowa City Press-Citizen

12/24/14

Couple hopes diagnosis will reunite family, end child abuse allegations

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome mimics signs of abuse

Katie Thompson

WMTW abc 8

11/24/14

How Can Doctors Be Sure a Baby's Been Shaken?

For years, attorneys have relied on a specific set of symptoms to prove infant abuse—but now, some physicians are questioning the validity of the diagnosis of shaken-baby syndrome that has sent many caretakers to prison.

Jessica Pishko

The Atlantic

11/24/14

Acquitted: Pender found not guilty of killing son

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. After deliberating for an hour and a half, a Montgomery County jury acquitted Jacobi Pender of murder.

Tavia D. Green

Leaf Chronicle

10/29/14

Texas releases death row inmate Manuel Velez after wrongful conviction

Innocent man cleared of 2005 murder of one-year-old after review of evidence determines he could not have killed child

Ed Pilkington

The Guardian

10/8/14

Pathologist: No evidence death row inmate abused child

Jeffrey Havard has spent more than a decade on death row for a crime the state's pathologist doesn't believe took place.

Jerry Mitchell

Clarion Ledger

8/21/14

Challenges to 'shaken baby' convictions mounting

In January, a federal judge in Chicago issued a stunning ruling: Shaken baby syndrome as a cause of death has little to no scientific basis.

Dee J. Hall

Madison.com

5/25/14

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