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As Baltimore County investigators take a fresh look at the unexplained death in November of an infant boy whose mother has since been charged in her other son's death, experts say such mysteries can be tough to unravel.
The key to finding answers in cases like 6-month-old Donald Wayne Lechner's death often lies, medical and forensic experts say, in carefully reviewing the old case file while searching for new information from witnesses.
"They may not find new forensic evidence, but it may have new meaning based on the new circumstances," said Thomas P. Mauriello, professor of criminology at the University of Maryland, College Park. Police "are going to try to focus on getting some new information from the suspect or other family members. If she had anybody else taking care of the children, interviewing them and finding out what new information they have."
The county police announcement that the department would review Donald's death came March 2, a day after the Dundalk boy's mother, Denise Marie Lechner, 25, was charged with child abuse resulting in the death of her 3-year-old son, Roy Lechner Jr.
Donald had been hospitalized Nov. 13 after he stopped breathing in what was characterized as an "acute life-threatening event," records show. The boy briefly was placed in a foster home, and the Department of Social Services unsuccessfully sought a court ruling to keep him there, but he was returned to his parents' care Nov. 18, records show.
The next day, paramedics were called to the Lechner house because the boy again was not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Unexplained deaths
No one has been charged in Donald's death. An autopsy listed the cause of his death as "sudden unexplained death in infancy" and the manner as "undetermined."
That cause is in some ways similar to a finding of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, said Dr. David R. Fowler, Maryland's chief medical examiner.
"SIDS is where there is a full investigation, a review of the medical history and autopsy, and we can exclude everything [as a cause of death]," said Fowler, who would not discuss the Lechner boy's case but agreed to speak generally.
For a cause to be listed as "sudden unexplained death in infancy," or SUDI, he said, "It means we found it suspicious but did not find anything we could put our fingers on. ... The question mark has to be something life-threatening."
As examples, Fowler pointed to children born with drugs in their systems, children with a sibling who died of SIDS, a child with any broken bones or a child whose family has been reported to the Department of Social Services.
By the time police came to the Lechners' home in November to respond to Donald's death, the family had been receiving services from county social services for about a year and a half.
Denise Lechner had been convicted in Ohio of bruising Roy Jr.'s face when he was 5 months old. And the boys' 60-year-old father was believed to be minimizing Denise Lechner's actions, according to a DSS document.
Bill Toohey, a county police spokesman, would not talk specifically about the investigations into the Lechner boys' deaths. But he described procedures for an initial death investigation and a typical review.
"Homicide detectives ... look at the environment and location, consult with the medical examiner and try to interview any witnesses," Toohey said. "Within a day, if the medical examiner says there is no sign of foul play, then it's over. We have no right to be questioning people if there is no evidence of criminal activity."
He also explained what a typical review might entail.
"In general terms, we would look again at the original case file," he said. "You might talk to someone who could point you in a direction that's new and talk to additional witnesses."
Previously, when asked about the review of Donald's death, he had said investigators would "see what happens with ... further conversations with the mother and a review of the case record at the time."
Denise Lechner's lawyer, Larry Polen, said neither police nor prosecutors have asked him about speaking to his client since he agreed March 3 to represent her.
The key to finding answers in cases like 6-month-old Donald Wayne Lechner's death often lies, medical and forensic experts say, in carefully reviewing the old case file while searching for new information from witnesses.
"They may not find new forensic evidence, but it may have new meaning based on the new circumstances," said Thomas P. Mauriello, professor of criminology at the University of Maryland, College Park. Police "are going to try to focus on getting some new information from the suspect or other family members. If she had anybody else taking care of the children, interviewing them and finding out what new information they have."
The county police announcement that the department would review Donald's death came March 2, a day after the Dundalk boy's mother, Denise Marie Lechner, 25, was charged with child abuse resulting in the death of her 3-year-old son, Roy Lechner Jr.
Donald had been hospitalized Nov. 13 after he stopped breathing in what was characterized as an "acute life-threatening event," records show. The boy briefly was placed in a foster home, and the Department of Social Services unsuccessfully sought a court ruling to keep him there, but he was returned to his parents' care Nov. 18, records show.
The next day, paramedics were called to the Lechner house because the boy again was not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
That cause is in some ways similar to a finding of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, said Dr. David R. Fowler, Maryland's chief medical examiner.
"SIDS is where there is a full investigation, a review of the medical history and autopsy, and we can exclude everything [as a cause of death]," said Fowler, who would not discuss the Lechner boy's case but agreed to speak generally.
For a cause to be listed as "sudden unexplained death in infancy," or SUDI, he said, "It means we found it suspicious but did not find anything we could put our fingers on. ... The question mark has to be something life-threatening."
As examples, Fowler pointed to children born with drugs in their systems, children with a sibling who died of SIDS, a child with any broken bones or a child whose family has been reported to the Department of Social Services.
By the time police came to the Lechners' home in November to respond to Donald's death, the family had been receiving services from county social services for about a year and a half.
Denise Lechner had been convicted in Ohio of bruising Roy Jr.'s face when he was 5 months old. And the boys' 60-year-old father was believed to be minimizing Denise Lechner's actions, according to a DSS document.
Bill Toohey, a county police spokesman, would not talk specifically about the investigations into the Lechner boys' deaths. But he described procedures for an initial death investigation and a typical review.
"Homicide detectives ... look at the environment and location, consult with the medical examiner and try to interview any witnesses," Toohey said. "Within a day, if the medical examiner says there is no sign of foul play, then it's over. We have no right to be questioning people if there is no evidence of criminal activity."
He also explained what a typical review might entail.
"In general terms, we would look again at the original case file," he said. "You might talk to someone who could point you in a direction that's new and talk to additional witnesses."
Previously, when asked about the review of Donald's death, he had said investigators would "see what happens with ... further conversations with the mother and a review of the case record at the time."
Denise Lechner's lawyer, Larry Polen, said neither police nor prosecutors have asked him about speaking to his client since he agreed March 3 to represent her.
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